儿子五岁时，我们去看望住在尼亚加拉河街对面的婆婆。那里没有任何障碍物可以防止孩子们走到河边，只有街道、河岸和开阔的水面。
我们看到了布兰登的鞋子，但没有看到布兰登。我们叫着他的名字，应该是大喊着，但没有听到他的回答。我们惊慌失措地往前走，除了水流什么也没看见。
一个小时后，邻居们也加入了我们的行列，他们围着街区转了一圈，又深入到当地的村子里。仍没有看到布兰登。在极度恐惧中，我丈夫拿起电话报了警。当他描述儿子的样子时，一个小身影从他身后的卧室里走了出来。布兰登解释说，他在躲他姐姐。我们不确定这个解释是否合理，但我们终于松了一口气，不再担心了。
我怀疑马利亚和约瑟也有同样的恐慌。当时耶稣已经12岁了，但祂也没有回应。当他们在圣殿里找到祂时，祂问了一个问题：岂不知我应当以我父的事为念吗？
在我们感觉不到耶稣的日子里，我们可以确信，祂仍在遵行天父的旨意。寻找祂，你就会寻见祂，而且祂可能还会问你一个问题。
亲爱的神啊，当我们心烦意乱、找不到你时，请帮助我们重新收敛心神，意识到你就在你本应所在之地。祈求你让我们与你步调一致。阿们。
路加福音 2:41-52
41每年到逾越节，他父母就上耶路撒冷去。
42当他十二岁的时候，他们按着节期的规矩上去。
43守满了节期，他们回去，孩童耶稣仍旧在耶路撒冷，他的父母并不知道，
44以为他在同行的人中间。走了一天的路程，就在亲族和熟识的人中找他，
45既找不着，就回耶路撒冷去找他。
46过了三天，就遇见他在殿里，坐在教师中间，一面听一面问。
47凡听见他的，都稀奇他的聪明和他的应对。
48他父母看见就很稀奇。他母亲对他说：“我儿，为什么向我们这样行呢？看哪，你父亲和我伤心来找你！”
49耶稣说：“为什么找我呢？岂不知我应当以我父的事为念吗？”
50他所说的这话，他们不明白。
51他就同他们下去，回到拿撒勒，并且顺从他们。他母亲把这一切的事都存在心里。
52耶稣的智慧和身量，并神和人喜爱他的心，都一齐增长。
"When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him." - Luke 2:45
When our son was five years old, we visited my mother-in-law, who lived across the street from the Niagara River. There were no barriers to prevent children from wandering to the riverside—there was just the street, the riverbank, and then open water.
We could see Brandon's shoes, but no Brandon. We called his name, probably yelling, but heard no answer. We walked along in panic and saw nothing but the current. After an hour we were joined by neighbors, who circled the block and went further into the local village. Still no Brandon. In total fear, my husband picked up the phone and called the police. As he described what our son looked like, a small figure walked out from the bedroom behind him. Brandon explained that he was hiding from his sister. We weren't so sure it was the best explanation, but our hearts were relieved, and we stopped worrying.
I suspect Mary and Joseph had that same sense of panic. Jesus was already 12 years old then, but he wasn't answering either. When they found him in the temple, his answer was a question: Didn't they know that he needed to be there, about his Father's business?
On days when Jesus may feel distant, we can be assured that he is still doing the will of his Father. Look for him, and you will find him—and he might have a question for you.
Dear God, when we are distracted and missing you, help us to refocus and realize that you are where you need to be. Keep us in tune with you, we pray. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
