The Unauthorized Homily

By Bill Dunn

A commentary on the Scripture readings from the Sunday Lectionary

(Scripture readings for Sunday, December 27th: 1 Samuel 1:20-22, 24-28; 1 John 3:1-2, 21-24; Luke 2:41-52)

HOLY FAMILY EXPERIENCED PAIN AND SORROW

This Sunday we celebrate the feast of the “Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.” In the gospel reading, we hear the fascinating account of the time Mary and Joseph lost their son. Yes, that’s right. They lost Jesus!

Everyone knows the story. Jesus was 12 years old. The family traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover feast. When it was time to head home, a caravan of relatives and neighbors set out for the long journey back to Nazareth. After walking a full day, Mary and Joseph discovered that Jesus was not with the other travelers—as they had assumed. Scripture says “they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.”

When hearing or reading this story, most people focus on what comes next: Jesus was found in the temple, discussing deep theological concepts with highly-educated teachers and scribes, and then He said to Mary and Joseph, “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

And then there’s a nice, happy ending, as the gospel reading concludes: “[Jesus]…was obedient to them….And [He] advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.”

However, there is an aspect to this story that is often overlooked. Between the time Mary and Joseph returned to Jerusalem, but before they found Jesus, there are a few simple words: “After three days…”

The whole section reads like this: “…but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. AFTER THREE DAYS they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers…” (emphasis added).

On a spiritual level, the words “after three days” are very meaningful. Twenty-one years after this event the disciples thought they had lost Jesus, their master, when He was crucified. But “after three days” they found Him again when He rose from the dead. So the phrase “after three days” is loaded with important prophetic and symbolic and spiritual meaning.

But for a minute let’s not think of it on a spiritual level. Let’s think of it on a purely natural level. Mary and Joseph returned to the largest city in the nation, a city which had just finished hosting the largest celebration of the year, where the population often swelled to five or ten times the normal level. They hurried into this chaotic and cluttered setting, and for THREE DAYS frantically searched for their lost boy.

Just imagine you and your family and a bunch of friends and relatives took the train to New York City to see the ball drop in Times Square on New Year’s Eve. Then in the wee hours of the morning, taking the last train back to Connecticut, you discover your 12-year-old child—who you were certain was hanging out, say, with your sister-in-law and some cousins in the back of the train car—was not on board. Somehow, he or she did not get on the train. And now imagine after getting off at the Stamford station and then hitch-hiking back to the Big Apple, you and 500 New York City cops spend THREE DAYS searching ever square inch of Manhattan for your precious child.

That would be a lot of fun, wouldn’t it? You probably would be completely calm and relaxed, wouldn’t you?

Well, that’s exactly what Mary and Joseph went thru—except there weren’t any cops or TV stations or Amber Alerts to help them. Also, back in those days, since there was no electricity and electric lights, all activity had to stop when the sun went down. During those torturous three days, when it got dark Mary and Joseph had to wait until morning to resume their search.

Can you imagine what was going thru their minds—and their hearts—during those long, dark nights as they waited, presumably in some cheap inn, for daylight to come?

We know so little about St. Joseph, other than he was a carpenter and he had a lot of uncomfortable dreams during the months before and after Jesus’ birth. Of course, we also know he was a very righteous and dependable man, or else God would not have chosen him for such a unique and important task: to be the earthly step-father and role model and mentor for the divine Messiah.

Those two traits, his righteousness and dependability, probably fueled the anxiety and sorrow he experienced during those three painful nights.

Can you imagine St. Joseph’s heart-wrenching prayers and cries to Heaven? Maybe they went something like this…

O Yahweh! O Lord! Why?! How?! O King of Creation, you chose me, your humble servant, to raise and nurture and protect your blessed Son. I remember the dreams, still vivid twelve years later. How could they not be vivid? Your holy angel appeared to me and spoke to me, a lowly man from a lowly village. You told me to fear not, that I should take Mary as my wife. You told me her child was your child, and your child was the whole world’s child. You told me the time had come to fulfill all righteousness. Your precious child, whom I was to raise as my own, would bring salvation to all mankind. What a responsibility. Do you remember when I wanted to decline this responsibility? Of course you do. I’ve never told Mary. I’ve never told anyone. Surely you remember, O Lord. The angel told me your plan, but in my heart I silently screamed, “No, not me! Please! Anyone but me. I’m not worthy!” But your angel convinced me that I could do it. I could raise you child successfully. And now, look! I’ve proven that I was right and you were wrong. O Yahweh, I’ve let you down. I’ve failed in this most sacred mission. I’ve lost your Son, the Messiah of Israel. O Lord, my soul is sorrowful, even unto death. Can you ever forgive me? Can you ever…forgive…me?

Mary probably reached over and hugged her distraught and exhausted husband as his sobs became uncontrollable. Despite her own grieving heart, I bet she tried to comfort the man she loved, the man who was more righteous and dependable than any man in Nazareth. I wonder if the words of Simeon came to her mind. Soon after Jesus was born, as she clutched her baby to her breast in the temple court, the old prophet looked her right in the eye and said, “Yes, a sword shall pierce thru your own soul too.” I wonder if, as she hugged Joseph, Mary thought to herself, This must be what Simeon meant. Nothing could be worse than this.

Just speculating.

This week, as we listen to this fascinating gospel story, don’t gloss over that brief phrase, “AFTER THREE DAYS.” Take some time to contemplate what Mary and Joseph experienced during those agonizing 36 hours. On this feast of the “Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,” contemplate how much love and sacrifice are needed to keep a family together on the journey of life. And contemplate how much pain often accompanies families on the journey—even holy families with a divine Son.

©2009