Mary in the Gospel of Luke: The Finding In The Temple

The Finding In The Temple

T he final scene of the magnificent Lucan infancy narrative: the Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple.

Luke’s divinely inspired drama of the beginnings of our redemption comes to a close in the Temple, the house of God. From the annunciation of Christ’s birth; through the visitation, nativity and presentation; the word of God brings us to this final episode constituting the infancy narrative of the third Gospel.

There are two Christological teachings of this final act which interest us in this series: Jesus, Wisdom of the Father and Jesus’ obedience to Joseph and Mary. There is also a clear Mariological insight: Mary – and Joseph – do not fully understand the mystery of Jesus. This installment will consider the finding in the temple as the revelation of Jesus the Wisdom of the Father. This must be first grasped before attempting to explain, in a future issue of The Queen, the lack of understanding on the part of Mary.

Jesus Wisdom of the Father

Saint Louis de Montfort’s love for Jesus Wisdom is well known. Basing himself on the scriptures, Montfort has written a masterpiece on The Love of the Eternal Wisdom. It is in keeping with this spirit that the missionary suggests that the fifth joyful mystery of the rosary, the finding of Jesus in the temple, be offered for “the gift of true wisdom”.  It is clearly possible, if not probable, to see an indication of Jesus Wisdom in this final scene of the infancy narrative.

Luke tells us that Jesus was twelve years of age when he observed the Law’s requirement to celebrate the feast of the Passover in Jerusalem. Although Jewish law at the time of Jesus obligated a young boy at the age of thirteen to observe the Torah, it was not unusual for a twelve year old – and even younger – to anticipate his adult responsibilities. That Mary joins with the pilgrimage to the Holy City was not out of any duty; for women and children were exempt from any obligation on this point.

During their stay in Jerusalem, the Holy Family joined others in celebrating the great feast of Passover which lasted seven or eight days. It was, Luke tells us, “after a day’s journey” on the trip home that Joseph and Mary, supposing that Jesus was with the kinsfolk and acquaintances, sought him.  To their great upset, he was nowhere to be found. The scene is now set for the portrayal of Jesus as Wisdom.

Jesus Listening to . . .

“After three days (one day traveling towards Nazareth, another day returning to Jerusalem, the third day searching for Jesus); they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers” (v. 47). It is rather typical for painters to depict the twelve year old Jesus as teaching the teachers within the temple area. Yet the sacred text does not say this. Rather, like a good student, Jesus is sitting at the feet of teachers of the Law “listening to them and asking them questions.”

. . . the Teachers of the Law

Luke appears to be painting an image of the young Jesus as an avid learner, seeking to know more about the Law of the Lord. Luke stresses here the full humanity of Jesus and tells us, at the conclusion of this narrative, that “Jesus increases in wisdom, age and grace before God and man”.

The Holy Spirit is telling us that the incarnation – the enfleshment of the Second Person of the Trinity – is not a myth; Jesus is truly our brother in the human family, like unto us in all things but sin; “Therefore he had to be made like his brethren in every respect . . . one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sinning”.  (Heb 2:17, 4:15). Jesus, therefore, “grows in wisdom,” he asks questions,” he “listens to the teachers”.  The Incarnate Second Person of the Trinity thinks, wills, acts, in a truly human way, through the creaturely finitude of humanity.

Yet down through the ages, this scene has inspired many authors to detect a disclosure of Jesus, the Wisdom of the Father. The teachers of the Law were “amazed at his understanding and his answers” (v. 47). And more strikingly, Jesus speaks of himself as dwelling within the Father’s house: “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (v. 49).

Jesus the Enfleshed Wisdom of God

No matter the precise meaning of this mysterious question of Jesus, (does the original Greek text mean “among the friends of his Father,” or perhaps “intimacy with the Father”). Jesus’ wisdom flows from this amazing relationship with God the Father.  It has become quite traditional, then, to see in this event the beginnings of the title, Jesus Wisdom of the Father, Jesus the enfleshed Wisdom of God. Paul especially clarifies this point in his first letter to the Christians of Corinth where he forcefully teaches; “Jesus, whom God made our Wisdom”. (1:30).

Understanding this event in this fuller sense, are the painters wrong in depicting Jesus as teaching the teachers? Since Jesus is Wisdom enfleshed, he is our only Teacher; we can only teach in him and through him. No Christian – whether it be the greatest theologian or the most gifted bishop – teaches God’s way on his own authority; “But you are not to be called rabbi [teacher] for you have one teacher and you are all brethren”.  (Mt 23:7).

For Saint Louis de Montfort, Jesus is fully manifest as Wisdom when he hangs upon the folly of the Cross; “Wisdom is the Cross and the Cross is Wisdom”. (LEW 180). The saint is echoing Paul; “For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified; a stumbling block to Jews and folly to the Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God”.     (1 Cor 1:22-23).

Future Articles on Our Lady of Wisdom

A future issue of The Queen will focus on Mary as truly Our Lady of Wisdom; for it is through her Yes that Eternal Wisdom is born from her womb on Christmas night.  And in a mysterious way, infinite, incarnate Wisdom willed to obey his mother and be instructed by her. Our Lady of Wisdom, make us one with your Son, the Eternal and Incarnate Wisdom of the Father.

This concludes the series on Mary in the Gospel of Luke: the Infancy Narrative of the third Gospel.