There is Something About Mary Series – Seeking With All Our Heart

Ponder:  Do I actively and purposefully seek God daily in all aspects of my life?

After the opening prayers of the rosary, we announce the first mystery and read the relevant Scripture passage slowly with attention, a lectino divina style of praying the scriptures.  Pause for a few moments of silence and then recite the indicated prayers (#5 below) while meditating on that mystery.  You may make a prayer request at the beginning of each decade or offer a Hail Mary for a specific person. 

Pray:  The Fifth Joyful Mystery: The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple. 

After searching for Him for three days, Mary and Joseph find Jesus in the Temple. The fruit of the mystery: Piety

Each year his 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. And Jesus advanced [in] wisdom and age and favor before God and man. (Luke 2:41-52)

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.  Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, whom you found in the Temple. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

Pray for us Mary, cause of our joy, that we may will to seek, find, and embrace Jesus in the Mass and in the sacraments.

Amen

Reflect:  On their way home from celebrating the Passover in Jerusalem, Mary and Joseph actually lost Jesus. God, the Creator of the universe, had entrusted Jesus the Messiah to Mary and Joseph’s care—and they lost him. Imagine what they were thinking and how they were feeling: grief, torment, distress, anguish, torture. So often we lose Jesus in our own lives and don’t even notice.  How well do I respect God as a loving father, approach Him with a childlike love wanting to please Him including His teachings and commandments?

Act:  I will examine my conscience with GRACE and seek Jesus in my life.

.