JEWISH PRACTICES AND JESUS
Jesus’ parents made sure that they fulfill every Jewish practice in Jesus’ life. They circumcised Jesus on the eighth day (Lk 2:21) and presented him in the Temple (Lk 2:22-40) on the 40th day. When Luke presents the event of finding the missed child Jesus in the Temple at 12, he says: “Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover” (Lk 2:41).
Jesus used to attend synagogue service regularly, even when he disagreed with some of their practices. “He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day” (Lk 4:16). He observed all the Jewish feasts and went to the Temple for the major ones. Even when his life was in threat in Judea, he went in secret for the religious observance. “But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, he himself also went up, not openly but as it were in secret” (Jn 7:10).
REFLECTION
Though Jesus questioned the teachings and practices of the contemporary Jewish leaders, that was for the correction of their wrong understanding and approaches. Jesus exemplified himself to all by observing the religious practices and charitable actions. Let us also find meaning in the religious practices and join the church community in worshipping God.