This Joyful Mystery is one of those rosary mysteries that has always been difficult for me to grasp. Don’t get me wrong, Luke’s gospel account makes it pretty clear just what happened. What’s always been difficult for me to understand is just what’s so joyful about it. Tonight as I was praying my rosary, I had a thought that was very joyful.

Mary and Joseph were obviously troubled at not being able to find Jesus. They looked for him everywhere — for three days! When they finally found him his response was, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

For the longest time now, I’ve just glossed over that phrase. “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” Tonight I thought of all the times that I have felt spiritually weak — times in which I too was searching for Jesus. In times like that I have tried the adoration chapel, a daily mass, the rosary, the Liturgy of the Hours — but I was still unable to find Him.

Jesus could have very well said to me, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be…?” He is everywhere! He’s always right beside me! And I stumble around in the dark, searching for Him, or sometimes even trying to pretend like I can’t see Him — because sometimes it’s a lot easier if I pretend that God isn’t watching.

I know now that I need to stop looking, and just start living a more faithful life. Jesus is always right there. It is only because of my weak faith that I sometimes lose site of His Presence.

See folks, the rosary is all about Jesus.