Second Sunday of Winter

“Jesus Among the Doctors” by Paolo Veronese, c. 1560.

​Having returned to Galilee, they ended up in their town of Nazareth. And the child grew and grew strong, full of wisdom, and the grace of God was in him. Every year, his parents went to Jerusalem for Easter. When he reached his twelfth year, he went up to Jerusalem at the time of the feast, as was their custom, and returned after the days of the feast were over. But thinking that he was with those in their company, they went about for a whole day, searching for him among their relatives and acquaintances. When they didn't find him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. And after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. All who heard him were amazed at the wisdom of his words. And when they saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him: My son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you, full of grief. And he replied: "And why were you looking for me? Don't you know that I must be wholly devoted to the things of my Father? They didn't understand his answer. So he went down with them to Nazareth.