The Fifth Joyful Mystery: The Finding in the Temple

Pictured above: Detail from Christ Teaching at the Temple by Carl Bloch. The National Historical Museum at Frederiksborg Castle, Denmark.

Mary and Joseph find Jesus in the Temple instructing the elders about His Father. Joy in finding Jesus is associated with this mystery.

1. His parents used to go every year to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover, and when he was twelve they went up for the celebration as was their custom. (Luke 2:41–42)
   
   
2. As they were returning at the end of the feast, the child Jesus remained behind unknown to his parents. Thinking he was in the party, they continued their journey for a day, looking for him among their relatives and acquaintances. (Luke 2:43–44)
   
   
3. Not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem in search of him. (Luke 2:45)
   
   
4. On the third day they came upon him in the temple sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. All who heard him were amazed at his intelligence and his answers. (Luke 2:46–47)
   
   
5. When his parents saw him they were astonished, and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you done this to us? You see that your father and I have been searching for you in sorrow." (Luke 2:48)
   
   
6. He said to them, "Why did you search for me? Did you not know I had to be in my Father's house?" (Luke 2:49)
   
   
7. He went down with them then, and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother meanwhile kept all these things in memory. (Luke 2:51)
   
   
8. Jesus, for his part, progressed steadily in wisdom and age and grace before God and men. (Luke 2:52)
   
   
9. Yet there too you shall seek the Lord, your God; and you shall indeed find him when you search after him with your whole heart and your whole soul. (Deuteronomy 4:29)
   
   
10. "Ask, and you will receive. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7)

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