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The Gospel today is quite different from our usual readings. It is a story from when Jesus was a twelve-year-old boy. This Gospel story is likely every parent’s nightmare; having one of their children lost. I can hardly imagine what Mary and Joseph were going through during those 3 days of searching for their son, Jesus. It seems that Jesus knew early in his life or might have had some insight into his true identity. The problem is that he did not share his plans with his parents when he decided to remain in Jerusalem at the temple. It makes sense that a 12-year-old child may not fully understand the implications and indeed the consequences of his actions on others. Still, as the Gospel suggests he had to grow into a better understanding of his mission. I wonder if he was ready to start his ministry at the age of twelve! That was not meant to be at this time. It would be another 18 years before Jesus would begin his public ministry. This maturing process was necessary for Jesus. This was not just a period of waiting; important maturing aspects were going on.

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In today’s podcast we have Mary visiting her cousin Elizabeth. There are several points in this Gospel I want to point out. We have Mary who is pregnant herself going to help her cousin Elizabeth . Mary’s sense of service is obvious.

We know that Elizabeth was likely past childbearing years. She was not able to have a child in a culture that expected women to have children, Many people looked down on women who were childless. Elizabeth is not the only one from the Bible who struggled with infertility.

Elizabeth is an excellent example of being meek. We don’t know much about Elizabeth, but I suspect she had her struggles. Being considered barren must have been hard for her. Elizabeth handled herself well and remained faithful to God despite the fact that it would appear God was not answering her prayers. She is truly an example of what meekness is all about. She is also strong; she can and does speak her truth confidently and succinctly when the time comes. Her faithfulness under pressure is admirable.

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In this podcast from Luke, we hear more about John the Baptist. John is giving advice to individuals who want to change their life to reflect their beliefs. These individuals realize that their faith is not just practiced on holy days but will also impact their behavior at work and at home.

There are a couple of key points that I want to draw your attention to. When asked what to do John doesn’t say, pray more or sin less or give more money to the Temple. Do you notice that all of his advice involves how to respectfully relate to other people?

John treats everyone the same. It doesn’t matter what their profession is. In most cultures including our own, professions are ranked from least to most prestigious. That means nothing to John. All work is honorable. The people are called to do an honest day’s work. Sometimes we are fortunate, and the job has meaning or purpose. Other times people work for the money. They work to live. They find purpose outside of work. But, even if you are working simply for the moony, there is still honor there.