Finding - Where Is Jesus?

Beads of Joy 02-03-11

Finding - Where Is Jesus?
©2011 James Dacey, Jr. SFO

Hello Everyone,

DECADE OF THOUGHT: "Finding - Was there ever a time for you; when you noticed that Jesus wasn't around in your daily life?"

This is a rather sad thought. I have no intention to make this a sad reflection today; but rather a wake up call and a reminder that we can easily lose sight of Jesus. Our Lord is ever present in our lives and in our world. But with distractions of other people, events, and the constant nagging of the evil in this world, we can, and we do lose sight of Jesus from time to time. Today's reflection of the fifth Joyful Mystery comes from Luke 2:41-50 (The Finding of The Child Jesus in The Temple). It is verse 49 that Jesus transfers the title of "father " from Joseph his foster father; to God, His real Father, Our Father. "And He said to them, "How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" What changed here in this mystery were a few things, that I immediately noticed. >Jesus went to the Temple to be with His Father, leaving us to search for Him and find Him. >In our quest in finding Him, we to are brought to the temple to the Father. >In the temple upon finding Him, Jesus directs us to His mission of drawing us to His Father. >At the temple Jesus tells us His true identity, the true Son of the Father, who is God.

Now do you see why I get so excited sharing, and meditating and praying the Rosary. Jesus is so alive in all of these fantastic mysteries. Furthering this reflection, can you see how Jesus is calling us through this mystery? Maybe if it is explained like this: >Jesus a child of twelve; >disappears from our sight; >we get frantic knowing He is no longer here; >we search and look and ask others for their help in finding Him; >through all our efforts we find Him in the temple; >and in the temple Jesus brings us to His Father - Our Father. Finding Jesus is a journey for all of us. Some through personal experiences, others through family or friends, and still others on their own quest to find truth. And so we are all left standing alone, with a deep desire in our heart to unite our Spirit, where the Holy Spirit dwells; with God's Spirit where Jesus dwells. Once we find Him, we rejoice in our union with Him; and then we do all we can to never allow that separation to ever happen again. But we all know our lives are filled with distractions and the constant attack of evil which tries to separate us from our Lord.

What can separate us from Jesus? Do we start believing in someone else? Do we just simply forget who Jesus is? What could be so important, that it could possibly draw us away from our Lord and Savior? It is so simple that we probably don't even think of it as a distraction. In my own reflection and insight, I say the answer is simply: "ourselves." You ask, what do you mean by that? If we place ourselves, and our own selfish desires, pleasures and wants first in our lives; we become forever distracted by that quest for self satisfaction of ourselves. Stay with me now. If we desire the best for our family (a cover sometimes for our own desires), then we pursue a very impressive career that may well consume our time and energy away from our family. We also may begin dreaming not of Jesus and His Mother; but rather that huge house, in that rich town on Ego Lane. And of cause that will usually go side by side with these thoughts; the car you will drive (what will impress others to make me look good), the clothes we wear (I want to look great, name brands of cause), the school and college my kids go to (only the best: *Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Columbia, etc), the furniture, the jewelry, the stuff..... Do you see how easily this effect will domino when as we place ourselves, in Jesus' place as the one we worship. Do you know EGO stands for? Evil Gross Obsessions.

Who is the first person you always think about? If it's you, then you just identified what needs to done. We need to take our eyes off ourselves, and focus them completely on Jesus and others. Never lose sight of Him ever again. And if you do, then you really need to seek Him out. Sometimes it's just a matter of eliminating bad habits (pleasure seeking habits - food, drugs, sex, desires) in our lives; or disconnecting ourselves from people that seem to always draw us further away from our faith. Not that we want to desert that friend, but we may need time away from them, praying for them; so that their hearts draw together with yours in unison towards Jesus. Top priority in today's reflection is to always seek out Jesus, and when you find Him, never lose sight of Him ever again.

"Jesus, I trust in You."


Your brother in Christ Jesus & His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr SFO

Today we pray the Luminous Mysteries

1. Baptism of Jesus
2. Wedding at Cana
3. Proclamation of the Kingdom
4. The Transfiguration
5. Institution of the Holy Eucharist

*Side Note: Many of these top colleges are taught by a very liberal faculty, that draw our kids away from Jesus and our faith. It would be very wise to look deeply into the curriculum taught. Do not let your children be led astray and spiritually slaughtered, when all you are concerned about is your ego.