Mary's incomprehension must have been an agonising experience, especially at not being able to understand Jesus' answer: "How it it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house," (Lk. 2:49). Mary is presented in this text (as in previous texts 1:29; 2:19) as one who keeps treasuring, interpreting and seeking the deeper meaning of Jesus and his mission. Later she is presented as one who hears the Word and does it.( 8:19-21)

Mary's relationship with Jesus based on maternal ties is sub-ordinated to the Divine plan and to Jesus' filial relationship to his heavenly Father and obedience to Him. This is a priority she learns to understand with time. Yes, Jesus seems to correct his mother's questioning as to his whereabouts, in this dialogue between mother and son, (2:48-49). Significantly these are the first recorded words of Jesus in Luke's Gospel.

Mary will learn to understand painfully with time that God's ways are really not our ways. To receive Jesus as son is to accept and welcome his priority of obedient surrender to the Father's will.

Today's feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary truly captures and celebrates Mary's obedient surrender to God's will in her life as she learned to live the questions, patiently bearing all that was unsolved in her life, till the distant day when everything is revealed.