Reflection for June 20, Saturday; Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Luke 2:41-51

Gospel: Luke 2:41-51

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.

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Reflection:

Have we experienced the feeling of fear and uncertainty?

Everyone of us perhaps has already experienced the feeling of fear and uncertainty. For example when a love one is brought to the hospital for an emergency; we feel fear and uncertainty of what may happen next. Amidst the anxiety and fear who gives us the confidence to calm down? it’s none other than God, we go to HIM in deep prayer.

When Saint Joseph and the Blessed Mother discovered that the child Jesus was not with them they must have felt fear and anxiety also. But in the middle of their feeling of fear and anxiety they remained peaceful for both of them were faithful worshippers of God. They knew perhaps that somehow they would soon find Jesus safe and sound. And so they went back to look for Jesus and they found HIM in the temple interacting with the Judaic teachers.      

Today is the memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We remember her heart that is overflowing with love for her child and her spouse. Her Immaculate Heart that is overflowing with Humility and surrender to the will of God.

Let us pray that our hearts may be like the heart of the Blessed Mother. A heart that is overflowing with humility and trust in God. A heart that is ever willing to embrace suffering a heart that is deeply rooted in faith and love for God. And a heart that is immaculately clean for it doesn't keep a record of wrong and hatred.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas