A lot will be conquered if we put god first

“Remember to ALWAYS put God first in your relationship, your marriage, & your home, because where there is Christ your foundation will always remain solid.”

Gospel Text: (LK 2:41-52)

Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast

of Passover,

and when he was twelve years old,

they went up according to festival custom.

After they had completed its days, as they were returning,

the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem,

but his parents did not know it.

Thinking that he was in the caravan,

they journeyed for a day

and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,

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,

listening to them and asking them questions,

and all who heard him were astounded

at his understanding and his answers.

When his parents saw him,

they were astonished,

and his mother said to him,

“Son, why have you done this to us?

Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”

And he said to them,

“Why were you looking for me?

Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

But they did not understand what he said to them.

He went down with them and came to Nazareth,

and was obedient to them;

and his mother kept all these things in her heart.

And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor

before God and man.

The gospel reading for today is very appealing to me as it shows us the humanity of Mary and Joseph… and Jesus as young boy.  Let us look to the Holy Family as we reflect on our time spent with family and friends during this holiday season.  How did we treat each other?  Are we too focused on the ‘little things’?  Can we let go of past wrongs?  I am grateful for my faith, and the presence of my spiritual mother, Mary, as I personally reflect now and through the New Year.