Joseph and the Most-holy Virgin Mary went to Jerusalem, to the Temple
of God, to celebrate the Passover every year. When Jesus reached
the age of twelve years, they took Him with them.
At the end of the feast, Joseph and Mary went
home. The boy Jesus remained in Jerusalem. Joseph and the Mother of God did not notice it, for they
thought that He was coming with relatives and friends. After a whole day on the
road, toward evening, they started to look for Jesus among their relatives and
acquaintances but did not find Him. In great anxiety, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him. After three days, they found Jesus in the
Temple and were amazed. He sat among the scholars, listened to
them with attention, questioned them and Himself answered their questions. His
unusual intelligence and answers left them wonderstruck.
His All-holy Mother went to Him and said, "My
Son! Why have You thus dealt with us? Behold, Thy
father and I have sought Thee sorrowing."
He said unto them, "How is it that you sought
Me? Did ye not know that I must be about My Father’s
business?"
By these words the boy Jesus Christ showed that He
was supposed to be in the Temple
of God and that He was not simply a man but the Son of God, Who
came to earth for a great work which God the Father had commissioned Him to do.
They did not then understand His words, but the Holy Virgin Mary kept all His
sayings in Her heart.
Jesus Christ went with Joseph and His Mother to Nazareth and was subjected to them. He helped Joseph in his trade,
learning carpentry, ceaselessly increasing in wisdom and stature and in favour
with God and man.
Note: See
the Gospel of Luke, 2:41-52.
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