Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint 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.

Mary’s heart

1. Jesus’ parents. When I contemplate Mary’s heart, an essential aspect of life comes to my mind: “to be clear about the purpose of one’s life”. This implies that you must try to identify the reason why you wake up every morning. Choose something that is in line with your strengths, your passions, and the needs of the world. Be grateful for what you have. That’s what will give you the meaning of your life. When we contemplate Jesus’ parents we see that it’s Jesus himself who makes them passionate and gives meaning to their lives. Now, takes some time to think… What is it that gives meaning to your life?

2. The caravan. It’s the crowd that follows. Sure, there are things that are beyond your control. Recognize this: there are some things that escape you, that are impossible to anticipate, and that’s okay. Let it go and focus your energy on what you can change. Following Mary’s example, put yourself in God’s hands and abandon yourself in him. Learn to recognize and accept that nothing in life is perfect, neither you nor others. Instead of striving for perfection, find joy in the imperfections that make life unique and beautiful.

3. She kept everything in her heart. Learn to work on all the aspects in Mary’s heart: patience, resilience, and empathy. It’s important to focus on your own progress, rather than trying to measure yourself against others. You can grow on having a mature heart. You should never stop striving for excellence in everything you do. And mind you, excellence isn’t perfection: it means expressing in all aspects of life your utmost commitment to trying your best in your thoughts, words, and actions. Bond your heart to Mary’s. It’s your life that describes your heart.

Remember that something good is on the way!

May God bless you and protect you in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.