How do you lose track of Jesus?

A movie commonly watched around Christmas is the comedy, “Home Alone.” It is far from a comedy, however, for anyone who has ever lost a child for 5 minutes, an hour or longer. It is every parent’s, grandparent’s or guardian’s worst possible nightmare.  

This is one of many reasons we honor the Feast of the Holy Family. The Church commemorates and honors the Holy Family with a Feast Day on the Sunday between Christmas and New Years.  In 2023, the feast day is Dec. 31.  

Imagine the terror that the Blessed Virgin and Saint Joseph faced when they lost the “Son of God” for three days! These parents lost the Son of God. What went through their minds during those three days? What happened if the boy Jesus was kidnapped? Did some of Herod’s people from 12 years ago come back for revenge?
    
The Gospel of Luke, 2:41-52, tells the story in detail. “After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.” Luke quotes Mary upon discovering Jesus in the temple, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.” And Jesus said to them, “How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my father’s house?”   

There are many reasons that the Holy Family, Mary and Joseph, should be honored on this feast day.

Luke wrote, “And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them.” 

They were limited on their understanding on God’s plan for Christ and their role in his life.
 
Pope Saint John Paul II said, “They placed God at the center of their family life, they loved and sacrificed for one another.” He called Saint Joseph, “the Custodian of the Redeemer.”
 
In the New Testament, Joseph is the husband of Mary and earthly father of Jesus. A direct descendant of King David, he passes that rightful title to the Lord, satisfying the prophecies Samuel made to David that his throne would be eternal (2 Sam. 7:16), a hint at the divine and human nature of one of his descendants.

From Biblical accounts, the Holy Family made the trip from Nazareth to Jerusalem every year to celebrate Passover, not just when Jesus was 12. Also in keeping with Jewish tradition, they made two additional religious pilgrimages to Jerusalem each year. 

In the archdiocese, there is in one church dedicated with the name Holy Family Catholic Church. It is in Lawton. 

Deacon Mike Romaka explained how the church celebrates their namesake.

“In years before COVID-19, traditionally the Holy Family Feast Day brought the whole church and its family together in a large get together with potluck. The parish hopes to get the tradition started up again in the near future. However, there is always a special Mass to commemorate the Feast Day and the parish.,” Deacon Romaka said.

According to Luke 2:52, Jesus ultimately honored his earthly parents. Luke finishes the passage with, “And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them.”

Charles Albert is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.


Photo: Stained glass window at Christ the King Catholic Church in Oklahoma City. Photo Chris Porter/Sooner Catholic.