We all know the story about Jesus when He was twelve years old, remaining in the Temple when both of His parents spent a whole day on the way home to Nazareth. That was a longa walk – maybe ninety miles—and the first day would have been tiring.

The men and the women who had come up to Jerusalem traveled in separate groups. As Mary and Joseph joined their groups, they each noted that the young Jesus was not among their group and naturally presumed that He was with the other group.

When both groups stopped at the end of the long day’s walk, and Joseph and Mary found each other, the realized what had happened.  Jesus was with neither group. Their fears were the obvious ones. Jesus had been kidnapped. Jesus had found Himself left in the city and had to go find family friends for the night. Whatever they thought, they had to be more distressed than ordinarily because of the angelic messages each of the two had received at Jesus’ conception.

So, of course, they headed back to Jerusalem immediately. It would take them the whole day, so Jesus was alone in Jerusalem for a second day. And maybe a third because the Gospel of Luke wrote that After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions (Lk.2:46). In our way of talking, Joseph and Mary found Jesus on the first full day of searching, and the Temple could have been one of their first places to look or it might have been a desperate move.

But they found Him. And both were really distressed, and His mother asked, Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you,  to which He responded with the uncomprehending: Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house? (Lk.2:48) Now, since we believe that they did not sin but remained really holy in God’s  eyes—what happened?

They all made mistakes. Mistakes! And these were big mistakes because of what might have happened to Jesus. As far as we can tell, though, they got over their mistakes and Joseph and Mary repeated earlier days’ walk, Jesus with them, probably a little crestfallen.  What happened tells how deeply the Son of God accepted human failings and parental authority, since he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them.

But his mother treasured all these things in her heart, even the mistakes. (Lk.2:51). We all need to be as humble as she and Joseph were, and treasure in our hearts even the mistakes we make, because we can reasonably presume that they are the Holy Spirit’s way of helping us keep humble and tranquil of hearrt.