Sunday, January 11, 2026 – The Baptism of the Lord
During this Christmas season as we hear stories of the young Jesus and the beginning of his public ministry, one of the stories that has been on my mind but I do not believe we will hear in the coming weeks is that of finding of Jesus in the temple as told in Luke’s Gospel (2:41-52). This is the telling of the Holy Family traveling to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. At its conclusion, Jesus is nowhere to be found, and Mary and Joseph search for days to find him. Returning to Jerusalem he is found in the temple in dialogue with the teachers who are amazed by Jesus’ wisdom. This story represents the outset of Jesus’ public ministry and the message of the Good News he will proclaim in the years to come. But my thoughts on this story have zeroed in on Mary’s words to Jesus upon finding him. She says, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you with great anxiety.” (2:48) Now, I want to take this line out of context and offer contemporary reflection many of you can relate with.
I believe one constant reality parents have is worrying about their children. From early in their lives and into adulthood, parents wonder if their children will be well and travel the right path. Their concerns include, will my child be healthy, what kind of friends are they associating with, what are they looking at and consuming on their phones, are they experimenting with various substances, where are they when out late at night, who do they want to marry or perhaps live with etc. The list goes on and on. And the common bottom line is—are they happy?
Perhaps the tragic death of Rob and Michele Reiner by their son Nick is prompting my thinking. Here was a young man who had it all but due to various circumstances fell into addiction and experienced mental health issues. We can safely guess his issues and concerns in life caused his parents much grief over the years.
There are no guarantees or magic formulas to ensure that our children and young people will “come out right” and be successful in life. There is also no method to erase the worry that parents and families have about future generations. Anxieties will persist, which is not necessarily a bad thing, why, because they/we care. All we can do is offer faithful, spirit-filled guidance and instruction to the young and walk with them the best we can through the joys and challenges of life. We also believe in faith that God is working in them and touching their hearts. It is important for us to remind them of the Spirit’s guidance in their day-to-day experiences. It will all aid in forming a future generation of well-intentioned faithful individuals.
We are important instruments in the lives of the young. Let us commit ourselves to form our young in the ways of faith and goodness. May we allow the witness of the Holy Family, we celebrated two weeks ago guide us in this important cause.