Chosen Home - First Sunday after Christmas, Year C

Colossians 3: 12 – 17 * Luke 2: 41 – 52

 

It is possible that you are feeling a little whiplash right now.  Weren’t we just celebrating the birth of the baby Jesus among the livestock in Bethlehem?

 

And today we find ourselves pondering a 12-year-old boy who is at the brink of adulthood in his culture, who has left his family and found his way into the Temple where he is in conversation with the teachers.

 

Why?

Why are we pondering this text today? I mean, I know kids grow up fast and all that, but…

 

I am grateful for the commentary that led me back to Mary and Joseph, that led me back to the act of searching for Jesus.  

 

Let’s start there – first with Mary and Joseph.

…you know – Jesus’ Mother Mary. Mary who was visited by the angel. Mary who was unmarried. Mary who gave birth to this boy amidst the livestock. 

And Carpenter Joseph – the working-class guy who did as God asked, taking Mary as his wife when she was suddenly pregnant before their marriage.

Mary and Joseph, the good and faithful and devout Jewish parents.

Mary and Joseph, who in just a few verses prior to those you heard today, had presented their 8 day old son at the Temple for dedication with the lawful sacrifice of two turtle doves.

Parents who had been through a lot. Parents who had made some really hard choices to be parents to this now 12-year old. 

 

These are deeply loyal and observant Jewish parents…they are parents of humble means.

 

These parents dutifully went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. To do the right things in light of their faith.

 

And then they lost their son.

 

They. Lost. Their. Son.

 

In the crowd at Passover.

 

Can you imagine what a shock that might have been?

And eventually, they find him in the Temple, with the teachers, asking questions, exploring truths, answering questions.

 

And when Mary fusses at her boy, when Mary names how anxious she and Joseph have been, Jesus asks what they expected – he’s in his Father’s house. Did you not know that I must be here?

 

Cheeky adolescent. I wonder if that came with an eye roll? 

 

There is a dual reminder here.  Mary and Joseph may be raising this kid, but he’s not “of them.” And he’s got a call on his life.

 

Jesus goes on to grow in wisdom and in years, in divine and in human favor, the gospel goes on to say.

 

In this text, it seems that Jesus knows who he is and where he belongs and who he is called to be.  And within the context of our themes about home, we might be tempted to point to this text and talk about how Jesus has chosen to be home with God. And to ponder what that might have to do with choices we make.

But I think it is not that simple.  

I think we have to try harder.

I think we don’t get to make ourselves out to be like Jesus in this text – because we are fully human. 

 

And we are definitely not fully divine.

 

Is it possible that we need to put ourselves in the shoes of Mary and Joseph?

 

You know – the parents who realize that somehow they lost the boy?

…the parents that have to seek after the boy entrusted to their care?

 

I wonder…

Is it possible that we occasionally lose Jesus in our festivities at Christmastime?

 

Have we lost sight of his Jewishness? 

It was no mistake that God chose to reveal Godself as a Jewish man born to a devoted Jewish family.

 

Have we lost sight of his humanity?

Here is an adolescent who, according to the text is learning and growing and becoming. He didn’t hatch forth as a fully formed and informed wise miracle working rabbi.  

If we take time to ponder that, and we fully accept that Jesus is fully divine AND fully human, we have to consider God learning new things…God becoming wise.

 

It is strange space, the space between the Silent Night and candlelight of Christmas Eve and the wise men showing up with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, we have flashed forward and we can be challenged by what we see here.

And really, it is a pretty good time to have something to ponder. It’s a pretty good time to have something challenging on our hearts. Because after all, it is only the second of 12 days of Christmas.

 

Do we need to go looking for Jesus?

Are WE surprised to find Jesus in the Temple?

Where do we expect to find Jesus today?

 

Today, we are just a day removed from the wonder of a baby born in Bethlehem.  And we’re called to think about who Jesus really was.

 

Will you wonder with me in the days to come?

 

And is it possible that our searching has something to do with our finding where we are truly at home?  

 

May there be revelation for us all as we continue

Amen.