Mary’s Confusion
I always found it interesting when reading how Mary and Joseph were confused by Jesus’ childhood behavior. They were confused by Simeon’s prophecy during Jesus’ presentation (4th Joyful Mystery) at the temple as well as when they found Jesus after losing him for three days (5th Joyful Mystery). I chuckle slightly because Mary had the unique experience of conceiving Jesus through the Holy Spirit after being visited by the angel Gabriel in the Annunciation. You would think that would tip her off that Jesus’ life was going to follow a different path than any other person in history.
It may seem easy to us reading scripture to dismiss Mary and Joseph’s confusion as simple minded. Surely, if we had been in their roles we would have understood Jesus’ unique behavior, right? Not so fast. How often have we been unable to fully grasp the Church’s teachings? Many times, while we may hear and know Church doctrine, we fail to live our faith with the sincerity it deserves.
Our Confusion
Think about all the knowledge we have that Mary and Joseph didn’t. We have the Gospels and the entire New Testament. Many of us have access to a Bible and the ability to read it. We can see the arch of Jesus’ birth, ministry, death, and resurrection and how it all fits together. We have thousands of years of Church teaching and tradition from some of the brightest and most enlightened minds that have ever lived. And we should have the graces and gifts of the Holy Spirit bestowed on us through the sacraments.
And yet, with all that knowledge of Jesus, we so often fail to understand him. Sure, we may know of him and his Church in the academic sense. We may be able to recall the Ten Commandments and various parts of Catholic teaching. But we fail to understand him through our tendency to sin. If we truly understood the awesome love God has for us, we would never think of damaging that relationship through sin.
The Rosary as a Sign of Predestination
When you meditate on the Fourth or Fifth Joyful Mystery, contemplate how Mary, God’s chosen vessel, was often confused about Jesus’ nature. She had to demonstrate faith in a divine plan she didn’t truly understand. We too are called, like Mary, to have faith in God’s plan for us even when it’s confusing or difficult. Like Mary, we don’t see the full “arch” of God’s plan. But when we pray the Rosary, Mary promises us signs of our predestination to Heaven.
Finally, in the Fifth Joyful Mystery, Mary asks why Jesus would do something like disappear without telling her. I think we often want to ask God, “why?” Why are you making my life difficult? Why are you putting all these obstacles in my way? We learn through the Rosary that God did not spare Jesus or Mary from sorrow to bring our salvation. I think in times of doubt and confusion we should ask God what He’s trying to teach us. As the Bible says, our faith will be tested like how fire tests and purifies gold (Peter 1:7). We need to have faith that the times when it seems like God has abandoned us are actually times when He’s making us stronger in faith and fortitude.