They were her Son's first recorded words, and Mary "understood" them not; they were words full of mystery and full of meaning; her mingled feelings of pain and relief, of sorrow and joy, would prevent her from seeing the gist of their meaning at once; but as time went on, and her spiritual horizon increased, she would understand more and more what His "Father's business" was, though perhaps not till she stood at the Foot of the Cross did she understand the words in all their fulness. "_Why hast Thou done so?_" It is a question Mary often puts to her other children--sometimes in surprise and amazement, sometimes in anxiety and sorrow, sometimes in love and tenderness. Well for us if we can always answer, like our Elder Brother: The "Father's business." This is an answer which will always satisfy the flame of love within her which prompts the question. _Colloquy_ with Mary, asking for grace that I may be so taken up with my "Father's business" that I cause her no anxiety. _Resolution._ To put my "Father's business" first, to-day. _Spiritual Bouquet._ "Why hast Thou done so to us?" Nazareth "_And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them. And His Mother kept all these words in her heart. And JESUS advanced in wisdom and age, and grace with GOD and men._" (St Luke ii. 52.) _1st Prelude._ JESUS, Mary, and Joseph going back to Nazareth. _2nd Prelude._ Grace to go there too, and to study its lessons. _Point I._--MARY WITH JESUS AND JOSEPH The lesson has been given now; JESUS has shown His parents that He is the Son of GOD before He is the Son of Mary; that GOD'S will, and GOD'S business, and GOD'S work, are the reasons for His being on earth. Now, because He is perfect man, He will live for eighteen years in subjection to His parents, to show us that subjection is one of GOD'S laws; that the Father's business can only be done by a perfect submission to His will and to His orders, expressed and given by those under whom His providence places us. All the direction needed for the spiritual life is contained in these two sentences: "_I must be about My Father's business_," and "_He was subject to them_." The Father's business is to be done in His way--not in mine; it will only be done by a perfect submission of my will to His, by subjection all along the line, by the crushing of self.