The Second Sunday after Christmas (CL)

Luke 2:41-52

⁴¹ Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. ⁴² And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. ⁴³ And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, ⁴⁴ but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, ⁴⁵ and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. ⁴⁶ After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸ And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” ⁴⁹ And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” ⁵⁰ And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. ⁵¹ And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

⁵² And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

Jesus causes his parents to Worry. His parents have lost their child in the temple. They have searched Jerusalem for three days before they discover him. It would be easy for me to say that Jesus was lost and then found three days later, just as he would later rest in the tomb for three days and then be descovered again risen from the dead.

But Jesus is found with his Father. Jesus is found in his real father’s house. But even after Jesus is found in his real father’s house, and even learning from the teachers of the law, he still submits to the will of his adopted Father and true Mother.

It is the duty of each of us to obey our parents or guardians. It is our duty to not anger nor worry our parents, but help them and be of service to them. This is the duty of every child. Often times we will cause our parents to be mad at us. We will even go to the extent of disobeying our parents.

Jesus may have known the right way to wash cloths, or build a table. But he was submissive to his parents. He increased in wisdom and in stature learning to live in favor with God and man. Jesus was veiwed as righteous in the sight of men as well as in the sight of God. This would continue even to the cross and resurrection. Jesus was crucified as an innocent man, even the thief on the cross will proclaim this truth. Jesus is righteous and provides us with his righteousness. So even though you disobey your parents, and even your father God, you are forgiven.