Jesus was willing to do anything to reconcile us to one another and to God. He even suffered the consequences of sin even though He was sinless. He wanted to give us a new and fresh beginning and free us from the burdens of the past. Paul says that when we are in Christ, we are something new - the old is gone. But why do we not feel like a new creation? Often it is because we refuse to let go of the past. We continue to feel guilty for our sins; we continue to bear grudges or anger against others; we continue to think poorly of ourselves; we continue negative habits. Being a new creation means letting go of the past, forgiving and being forgiven. It also means embracing new ideas and ways of looking at the world and God. It means acting like a free and redeemed human being rather than a slave.

Like any mother who cannot find her child, Mary must have been frantic with fear. For three days she has been searching for Jesus, and when she finds Him, her fear and relief turn to anger. How could you do this to us? Jesus is puzzled - why were you looking for me? Don't you know that I must be doing what God sent me to do? The light within Jesus has begun to shine brightly - He has reached a new stage in His life. There comes a time in everyone's life when one must listen to another voice - the still, quiet voice of God within - and begin to do what God sent us to do. Mary listened to the voice of God; Jesus listened to the voice of the Father; it is time that we are in our Father's house too.