Read: Luke 2:41-52

When Jesus was twelve years old, he “pilgrimaged” with his family from their home in Nazareth to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. (Luke 2:41-52) The journey would have taken approximately 30-40 hours to cover the 91 miles. His family would have walked with other families, and with the average of walking 6-8 hours per day, it would have taken 4-5 days. Pilgrims sang and prayed the Psalms of Ascent from Psalms 120-134 as they walked. One can imagine that the prayers also led to pondering their meaning and how it connected with the desires of their hearts. 

As Jesus’ family set out to go home after the Feast of the Passover, they noticed that Jesus was not with them. They found Him in the temple and asked, “Why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” (Luke 2:48) Jesus responds with: “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (v. 49) Certainly, Jesus’ understanding of His identity and His desire had been named in the Psalms sung along the way. One can also imagine that other Psalms were giving words to His experience as well: “One thing have I asked …  that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life” (Ps 27:4) or perhaps, “How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of Hosts! My soul long, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord” (Ps 84:1-2).

Jesus’ words are telling: “I must be in my Father’s house.” The words must be (Greek, δεῖ εἶναί) connote the idea of necessity. In other words, “where else word I be? I am compelled to be here.” Why? It is His Father’s place. Jesus’ desire (to be in God’s presence) was shaped deeply by understanding His identity in relationship to the Father. Identity led to the necessary conclusion of being with His Father. We see this later in His ministry as He goes out to a quiet, lonely place to pray (Mark 1:35-38). Even when not at the temple in Jerusalem, Jesus sought to find Himself in His Father’s house through prayer.

Just as Jesus’ parents did not fully understand Jesus staying back at the house of the Lord, the disciples also expressed irritation at Jesus’ necessary time of prayer early in the morning away from the action. As we pursue a life of living in God’s presence, we will be misunderstood as well. We see this in the account of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42. Martha complained that Mary was leaving her to do all the work as Mary sat at the feet of Jesus. However, the Lord simply replied to Martha, “you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.” 

We can find ourselves anxious about many things … so many things. It is His presence that is necessary … needed, vital, indispensable. There is an old hymn that invites us to “turn (our) eyes upon Jesus, to look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.” As our gaze is on the one necessary thing, the non-essentials do not appear quite as necessary any longer. How often do we find ourselves focused on and even obsessing about the non-essentials as though they were more than that? 

One thing is necessary. As our identity and desire is shaped by dwelling in His presence, we find joy and peace and hope. In the opening verse of Psalm 122, the Psalmist prays, “I was glad when they said to me, let us go to the house of the Lord.” Does the mere thought of the Lord’s presence evoke joy like that for you? Do you see His presence as the one necessary thing? Are there things you are being invited to release that are non-essential?

This invitation of the Psalms of Ascent is to dwell in the House of the Lord. We do this as we pilgrimage to the House of the Lord and find our home there. The House of the Lord is that place where we experience God’s presence which is the experience of His love. He is always loving us, and our response is to ask: Lord, how are you loving me right now?

Reflection questions: “Lord, how are you loving me right now?” What non-essential things have I allowed to distract me from simply being present to Your love for me? Imagine what it would change in your approach to yourself, God, and others for Him alone to be the one necessary thing.

Prayer: Lord, dwelling with You is the one necessary thing in my life. May I deepen in my awareness of this reality today. As I live in this awareness, may I respond with trust. Amen.