‘Discretion’ is defined as cautious reserve in speech. ‘Reserve’ is defined as cautious in making a full explanation, restraint in the free expression of one’s mind. Neither of these is to be expected in a little child. It is pretty much useless to try to explain the concept of a secret or a surprise to a chatty toddler. Normally, all they retain is that there is something exceptional happening or going to happen that makes Mommy and Daddy happy. Therefore, the child, too, even without fully understanding, shares this happiness. And one thing they know for sure, happy things are talked about! This is true about overheard family issues, too. Private conversations get recorded and just lie in wait for the opportunity to tell all to whomever. As previously noted, Kindergarten and Primary School teachers get to hear some intriguing stories! (I’m sure I regaled Miss Horsman and Miss Howe with my share! Sorry, Mum and Dad!) Y’all wanna know something funny about Miss Horsman? When saying the Lord’s Prayer, she pronounced Father just like we say gather! And Miss Howe? When she came back to school the next September, she looked the same, but we were now to call her Mrs. Snowdon?!
Having confessed my childlike spontaneity and learned a bit about discretion and reserve over the years since, I wonder if the young Jesus, in possession of the beyond-describing insider knowledge of the Father’s plan, had any difficulties holding it in? Did he have any unguarded Kingdom moments which caused raised eyebrows in the village? Did Mary, the always-discerning mother, ‘see’ things that others missed? Did she have a ‘knowing’ beyond her ‘seeing?’ Was Jesus’ awareness of the joyous salvation he was bringing tempered with the knowledge of its heavy cost to himself?
Only the Gospel of Luke mentions that, following the wilderness testing, Jesus returned to the region of Galilee with his freshly chosen disciples. Maybe his home territory felt safer. There, he was greatly appreciated but not yet widely known beyond this rural, northern area of Israel. Maybe this was like the soft opening of a business, open but not yet ready to go fully public – from which there would be no turning back. Maybe this was meant as a kinder introduction to all things Kingdom for his (slightly disoriented?) band of brothers. In any case, his incognito person was to be short-lived.
I wonder if, in Jesus’ great love for those guys, he chose to give them time to begin maturing into his love, not wanting to frighten them but to strengthen them. I wonder if he does that for us, too. Looking forward to seeing all you beautiful, Jesus’-love-strengthened disciples tomorrow, 10 AM, 2 PM UK, 3 PM ES. PD
