41Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.47Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
49“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”f50But they did not understand what he was saying to them. (Luke 2)
Thoughts: There is not much in the canonical Bible about Jesus as a boy. There are extra-canonical texts that add tremendous and unbelievable stories to the narrative of the life of Christ. Traditionally, this has been seen as Jesus coming of age and recognizing his calling as a boy of twelve. So around 10-14 years young people confirm their baptism vows or profess their faith for the first time. This has been called "the age of accountability." This is the age that we are responsible and made aware of our own relationship to our God (instead of simply relying on our parents' faith). It is important to recognize that there is a time when we recognize we should be in our Father's house. It is important to recognize that the place of worship is our home- and a taste of our ultimate home in heaven.
Prayer: Help me, Lord, to always want to come home to you- in your house of worship.
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