Family life is full of love and joy, but it can also bring its share of stress. In this Sunday’s Gospel, we get a glimpse into a very human moment for the Holy Family. Mary and Joseph lose track of 12-year-old Jesus for three days—imagine their panic! When they finally find Him in the temple, Mary says what any parent would: “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”
We’ve all had moments like this in our families, whether due to the uncertainty of our kids’ decisions, the challenges of caring for an aging parent, or simply the task of navigating the ups and downs of life together. Like Mary and Joseph, we can find ourselves asking, “Why is this happening? What should I do?”
This Gospel episode reminds us that we’re not alone—even in the middle of anxiety and confusion. Although Mary and Joseph didn’t understand why Jesus stayed behind, they trusted that God had a plan for Him. They remind us that we don’t need all the answers to stay close to God.
Trusting God through family stress doesn’t mean our worries magically disappear; it involves handing those worries to Him and trusting that He’s walking with us. When we feel overwhelmed, we can ask for God’s guidance, lean on prayer, and remember that even when life feels uncertain, He’s with us.
So, how can we trust God through family anxiety this week? Consider taking a deep breath, asking God to give us peace, and letting go of the things we can’t control. Or, maybe it’s as simple as remembering that God loves our family even more than we do.
