Hat's Off

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.  (Luke 2:41-51a)

Today is the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Mary and Joseph found 12 year-old Jesus in the temple listening to his teachers and asking questions.   He wasn’t outside playing some game (certainly not video games as with today’s children).

My hat’s off to all of Christ the King’s teachers associated with Faith Formation.   The challenge is to keep children interested and listening.   It’s to give them understanding of our faith and the deep meaning and symbolism it provides.  It’s to help them take to heart and apply Jesus’ teaching to their lives and have them realize that God is love and is directed at them especially through the Holy Spirit.

God bless our teachers and those that lead CTK’s Faith Formation.  It’s up to parents to help the seeds of faith grow in their children – seeds sowed by themselves and their teachers.

Deacon David Pierce