His mother stored up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favour with God and with people.
What were the things Mary stored in her heart? She had observed Jesus sitting, listening and questioning with the teachers in the Temple. We are told that the learned men were astounded at what he had to say, at his intelligence and his replies. He was certain of his place in the world; “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” he asked his parents. He was not perturbed by their worries.
How did Jesus come by this wisdom? How did his childhood allow and encourage such wisdom to develop?
Mary and Joseph protected him yet allowed him the space to become fully who he was. As a young child, they removed him from danger by taking him into Egypt: following guidance from God, they took him out of the path of Herod’s wrath. Jesus, Mary and Joseph return to Nazareth after Herod’s death. (Probably Jesus was about 3 years old when this happened.)
When Jesus was presented in the Temple, his parents heard the prophecies of Simeon and Anna. All the events of Jesus early life, along with their own visitations, are the pieces that begin to add up; they create a mosaic that points to the purpose of Jesus’ life.
As a wise being, Jesus is a model for us – not a model of self-righteous “goodness” or “sinlessness” but a model of living in “right relationship” with God. He came to show us that we are made in God’s image and God is always there to guide us. He took away our sin of separation from God and showed us the power of prayer.
Prayer is about listening. When we pray, do we honour Jesus’ teaching and the example of Mary and Joseph, enough?
Prayer is about listening. The key question in prayer is “what do you want me to know?” ‘or “What is your will for me?” Not giving up our power or handing over responsibility to God, but knowing that he holds the key to our life on Earth - we were with him before we incarnated and we will return to him when we die. He will guide us to learn as we journey though life.
Thoughts for reflection…
Honouring a mother’s wisdom: What instances in your life can you point to when your mother showed understanding and allowing of your innate wisdom – enabling you to grow, trusting your inner strength and connection to God and the rightness of all things?
Jesus chose his parents – did her choose wisely? If we are made in God’s image and Jesus came to show us how to be the Father’s children, then we too, surely, chose our parents even if we have forgotten that which occurred before our birth. In what way did you choose wisely? In what way have future choices upheld the wisdom of your incarnation?
