Happy New Year!
December 31, 2024
"And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."
~Luke 2:52
Growing
In the church calendar, Jesus grows up fast! On December 24, we celebrate his birth; by the middle of January, he’s already an adult in the Jordan River ready to be baptized by John. Whew!
The Gospels also speed up the story of boy Jesus. They give us one story of Jesus’ youth, in Luke 2:41-52, where Mary and Joseph cannot find Jesus for three whole days. I find this story so tender and a bit mischievous: the boy Jesus is age 12, simultaneously anointed and precocious, and he's missing! Turns out, he snuck off to lead and teach in the temple without telling anyone where he was going. His doting parents worry about his whereabouts for three days, only to find that he had been in worship, teaching with clarity beyond his years.
This story reminds us both of Jesus’ divinity and the dynamics of a human family. The story ends with Jesus wowing those in the temple, then Jesus listening to his parents, punctuated by him growing in “wisdom and stature.” Theologically, I am not sure how the divine Jesus can grow in wisdom (is he already wise?!), but I do think I can relate to his parents in this story. I would be looking for Jesus and looking hard.
On Sunday, we studied the Magi looking for the Christ child, and today we read about Jesus’ parents frantically searching for him after he'd gone missing. How are we looking for Christ today? Where are we looking for him? Are we paying attention to signs from God as the Magi did? Where would we be surprised to find him today?
In worship this coming Sunday, we will follow in Jesus’ footsteps by remembering his baptism and our own. In those vows, we are invited into wholeness by claiming God’s strength beyond our own to resist evil, sin, and oppression.
The Sacrament of Baptism itself is fast: three sprinkles of water! But the unfolding of grace and strength is life-long. I hope to see you Sunday so we can remember these life-long baptism lessons together.
