1st Sunday after Christmas Day
Luke 2:41-52
The busyness of the Season leading up to Christmas can certainly make us feel like we’ve been running in circles! We’ve conditioned ourselves to be busy! Not that all busyness is bad… we need to be engaged and productive. Our commission and calling is to GO and DO… “Go into all the world” and “Be doers of the Word and not hearers only.” We can only accomplish such by being productively engaged. But it’s easy to get so “caught up” in busyness… in “Christmasing”… that we lose sight of what’s most important about the Holy Days… and we’re not alone, or unique in that regard.
In Biblical times, the Holiest of journeys was a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and the Temple! Especially during Passover (a yearly celebration of God’s deliverance of his people from slavery in Egypt). It was kinda like the ancient equivalent of Christmas Day! As large numbers of people crowded into the city, the markets and vendors would be in full retail mode, selling their goods and catering to the needs of the visitors.
Mary and Joseph (and their family, including Jesus) were among the “hustle and bustle” of The Passover Festival as it was their tradition to make the annual journey, together. They were devout, followers of God who faithfully and regularly exercised their faith and religious practices! Much like we do at Christmas!
But, in all the noise and confusion… as Mary and Joseph packed up the family to head home after the celebration ended… they failed to notice that Jesus wasn’t there! They headed for home assuming he was among the family, somewhere in the mix!
It was a full travel day, before they realized Jesus wasn’t with them! Can you imagine?
So they turned the whole caravan around, and headed back to the city… where after three days, they found him in the Temple, chatting it up with the priests, displaying an astonishing wisdom that was well beyond his years.
Mary expressed her anxiety and frustration with Jesus, as any mother would… but Jesus responded: “didn’t you know that I’d be in my Father’s house.”
At just twelve years old, Jesus revealed a profound truth: the heart of His identity and purpose is rooted in His relationship with the Father. It’s a relationship that will blossom more and more in the Gospels… until we’re brought into the realization that Jesus and the Father are One.
This is the only story in the whole of the New Testament that offers us a glimpse into Jesus as a child. We have the wonderful story of His birth and infancy… then the next mention of Jesus he’s 12 years old… and the next time we hear about him, He’s an adult. But we’re specifically told that during all this time that he’s not mentioned, that he’s growing in strength and wisdom. He’s not just marking time. He’s preparing, even as a child, to assume his God given, God ordained purpose.
“Didn’t you know that I’d be in my father’s house?”
Of course, to be “in the Father’s house” is about far more than being in a physical location—it’s about being in God’s presence, focused on His will, and growing in His wisdom. Jesus’ words remind us that true belonging and purpose are found when we center our lives around God. God prepares us for our greater calling all throughout the days of our lives!
Of course, in our busyness and the chaos of life, we, like Mary and Joseph, sometimes lose sight of Jesus. And our search for him sometimes takes longer than expected… for us; it’s usually because we’ve been looking in all the wrong places. We’re blessed to find that He has been waiting for us in the very space where he has always been— in the place of prayer, worship, and Scripture.
As you and I journey into a New Year, together, let’s be sure to set aside intentional time to “be in the Father’s house.” Whether it’s through worship, reading God’s Word, or prayer, prioritize His presence and allow Him to guide your heart.
… it’s a great time to ask ourselves:
1. Are you & I making time to be in the Father’s House regularly, and are we making time for growing our faith, daily?
2. What “distractions” might be keeping you from dwelling with God and growing in His wisdom?
Prayer:
Father, help us to abide in Your presence and to seek You above all else. Like Jesus, may we find our purpose in doing Your will and growing in wisdom and favor with You and others. Teach us to prioritize time in Your house, both in worship and in our daily walk with You. Amen.
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