“Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”// Luke 2:49
Today we are invited into the mystery of familial love on this beautiful Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. We prayerfully journeyed with Mary and Joseph this Advent and heartily rejoiced with them on Christmas. Yes, the sweet baby Jesus is a delight to our eyes! But today, we zip forward and receive this privileged glimpse of the twelve-year-old Christ.
Can you picture Jesus traveling with His parents on their annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Passover? I wonder if the Holy Family prayed the words of Psalm 84 that we sang at Mass today?
“Happy they who dwell in your house!
Continually they praise you.
Happy the men whose strength you are!
Their hearts are set upon the pilgrimage.”
When I journeyed to Jerusalem a few years ago, my heart was set upon the pilgrimage. I placed my hand on the Western Wall, so close to the temple where Jesus sat in the midst of the teachers. I pondered these words of Jesus that Mary kept deep in her heart: “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
As I stood on that holy ground, I experienced deep consolation. I remembered the many times in prayer that I have taken refuge in the Father’s House. It is a place of security, provision, and peace. It is a place where my heavenly Father delights in me, His beloved daughter. It is a place where I experience deep union with Jesus.
Sister, Our Father has prepared His heavenly home for each one of us. He is faithful and ready to provide for our every need. When we are surrounded with great anxiety like Mary and Joseph, remain with Jesus. Pray these words with Him: “I must be in my Father’s house.”
He is faithful and ready to provide for our every need. // Rose Coleman Click to tweet
Rose Coleman is an elementary school teacher with a heart for pilgrimage. She traveled the globe on a ship during college and spent some years in the convent as a religious sister. She was a contributing author to All She Had, Blessed Conversations: Rooted, and our children’s devotional prayer book called Rise Up. Find out more about her here.
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