Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar

Age twelve, Jesus remains in Jerusalem. Unaware, his parents look for him anxiously and fail to find him. They look “among their relatives”, they look “among their traveling companions”, they look “among their acquaintances”, but amongst all these people they do not find him… My Jesus doesn’t want to be found in a crowd. Now learn where they found him… so that you can find him too: “At the end of their search they found him in the Temple”. Not just anywhere but “in the Temple” and not simply in the Temple but “in the midst of the teachers, asking them questions and listening to them”. So then, look for Jesus too in the Temple of God, seek him in the Church, seek him among the teachers in this temple, who never leave it. If you seek like this, you will find… They find him “sitting in the midst of the teachers, asking them questions and listening to them”. Again, Jesus is here; he is asking us questions and listening to us speaking. Luke says: “They were all astounded”. What was it they were astounded about? Not his questions, wonderful though they were, but his answers… “Moses spoke,” Scripture says, “and God answered him in a voice” (Ex 19,19). This was how the Lord taught Moses what he did not know. Sometimes Jesus questions, sometimes he answers…, and no matter how wonderful his questions are, his answers are more wonderful still. That we, too, may hear him and he may put questions to us that he himself will answer, let us beg for him and make an intense and anxious attempt to find him and then we shall find the one we are looking for. Not without reason does Scripture say: “Your father and I have been looking for you sorrowfully”. Indeed, someone who is looking for Jesus should not do so carelessly and without effort, in an intermittent way as some do… who, for this reason, do not find him. As for us, let us say: “We are looking hard for you”.

Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team

Often, it seems to us, Mary forgot to eat and to drink, keeping vigil in order to think about Christ, to see Christ in his flesh. She burned with love of him and passionately loved to serve him. She often did what the Song of Songs sings about: “I was sleeping, but my heart kept vigil.” (Song 5:2) Even when she was resting, she continued to dream of him who filled her thoughts throughout the day. Whether she was keeping vigil or resting in peace, she always lived in him, was always occupied with him. Where her treasure was, there also was her heart (Mt 6:21); where her glory was, there also was her mind. She loved her Lord and her Son with all her heart, with all her mind, with all her strength (Mt 22:37). She saw with her eyes, touched with her hands the Word of Life (1 Jn 1:1). How blessed was Mary, to whom it was given to embrace him who embraces and nourishes everything! How happy was she who carried him who carries the universe (Heb 1:3), she who nursed a Son who gives her life, a Son who nourishes her and all beings on earth (Ps 145:15). The one who is the wisdom of the Father put his arms around her neck, the one who is the strength that gives movement to everything sat on her arms. He who is the rest of souls (Mt 11:29) rested on her motherly breast. How gently he held her in his hands, peacefully looked at her, he whom the angels wish to contemplate (1 Pet 1:12), and he gently called her, he whom every being calls upon when in need. Filled with the Holy Spirit, she held him close to her heart (…) She never had enough of seeing him or of hearing him, whom “many prophets and kings wished to see (…) but did not see.” (Lk 10:24) Thus Mary grew ever more in love, and her mind was unceasingly attached to divine contemplation.
Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team