This is the only story we find in the gospels that tells us anything about Jesus during his growing up years. Here he joins his parents for their annual trip to Jerusalem for the celebration of the Passover . . . and he gets left behind when his parents leave for their journey home. What we discover as we read carefully is that, even at age twelve, Jesus understands who he is and what he is supposed to be doing. The confusion and frustration of his parents, mirrors our own frustration and confusion in life, when we fail to see who Jesus is and what his purpose was. “Finding Jesus” means seeing who he is and what he was all about - God in the flesh come to rescue us and make us family - that we can find peace, joy and fulfillment, the fullness of life promised us by Jesus.
