“All were amazed at his answers”

The Spirit of God was already strongly with Jesus as a child.  The eternal Word of the Father was already blossoming in the temporal body of Christ.  Yet we do not see him begin his ministry for twenty or more years.  We know that the Father’s Word does not return to him void, especially in the case of his own Son.  What then was the “purpose” of this wisdom given to the Christ child throughout his hidden years?  Was it merely a preparation for his ministry, as short as it was?  Perhaps the Word simply delights in the interior life of a soul, in this case His own soul.  “Mary has chosen the better part,” perhaps Christ did too, during his hidden years.  And so it is that we must cherish the Word given to us in the secret depths of our heart and not presume there is a “purpose” outside of silent praise.  The Spirit will lead us if he ever wishes us to go forth actively.  The first stop is, of course, the desert.