Today's Gospel

Have You Lost Jesus?

Welcome back to Radical and Relevant, where each day we explore the genius of the Gospel. Today's reading is from the Gospel of Luke 2:41-51A. Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when Jesus was 12 years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended and they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day's journey and they sought him among their king's foe and acquaintances. And when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem seeking him. After three days, they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when they saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously." And Jesus said to them, "How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my father's house?" And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them. And he went down with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them. And his mother kept these things in her heart.

What jumps out at you today? When's the last time you lost something that was precious? When's the last time you lost something and they put you in a panic? Even when you can't find your car keys or you misplace your wallet or something like that. And the anxiety that wells up in us can be significant. So imagine you've been entrusted the Son of God and all of a sudden you can't find him. I think all of us as parents who have kids, we sometimes would look away and then the child is not there and then you panic. So where did the child go and just move 10 feet? But the panic that can come over you. Imagine what it was like for Mary and Joseph to have lost Jesus. How often do we lose Jesus in our lives and we're not even aware of it? It maybe takes us a week or a month or I don't know how long before we become aware of the fact that, "Okay, we lost Jesus." Look back on our lives, there's probably been many moments where we've lost Jesus for weeks or even months at a time. And in what way have we lost Jesus at this time in our life? In what way are we being invited to a deeper relationship, a reunion with Jesus at this time in our lives? We ask God, I think today's great prayer to be mindful if we ever lose Jesus that we be mindful of it straight away. Instantaneously. Have a great day and remember, Be Bold, Be Catholic.

Busy is not your friend. It's time to take our lives back from the tyrant busy. That's from my new book, Slowing Down to the Speed of Joy. If you haven't had a chance to read it yet, I encourage you to pick up a copy. It's about probably one of the biggest struggles in my life, and that is to escape the insanity of busyness. In order to allow experiences to touch the very depths of our soul, we do have to slow down to the speed of joy.