Image: The Twelve-Year-Old Jesus in the Temple by Max Liebermann, 1879
December 29, 2024: Christmas 1C
1 Samuel 2:18-20; 26; Colossians 3:12-17; Luke 2:41-52
A Few of My Father’s Things
In the film adaptation of the musical The Sound of Music, there’s a scene where the von Trapp children are huddled with Maria in bed during a thunderstorm. To cheer them up, Maria begins singing this song:
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things.
When bad things happen, Maria just thinks of these things, “and then I don’t feel so bad”.
Of course, this song is a holiday classic, not just for its winter imagery, but also for its upbeat tone, always welcome during dark wintery days. And that’s fine as far as it goes. I know that during this time of year, immediately following Christmas Day, I need some cheering up. Maybe you do too. There’s a lot of winter left, after all.
But simply feeling better is not the goal of the Christian life. And it’s the twelve-year-old Jesus who shows us the way.
First, any parent must feel sympathy for Mary and Joseph. It turns out that Jesus isn’t different from other children in one important way—causing anxiety to parents! After all, they must have planned a while for this pilgrimage with the extended family. They were faithful Jews, leaving their livelihood behind to travel to Jerusalem, making the proper sacrifices as prescribed in the book of Deuteronomy. When they turn back for Nazareth, they aren’t particularly worried that Jesus isn’t with them. After all, they’re traveling with family—he must be farther back in the caravan.
But when he doesn’t turn up, they get scared. They look among their family and friends without success. And then they turn back to Jerusalem, trying to find the proverbial needle in a haystack. (By the way, you can’t tell me that the producers of Home Alone, especially the second movie, didn’t draw on this story for inspiration!)
And to their shock, they find Jesus among the old sages of the Temple. But not as a disciple. Not as a learner. And not as his spiritual forebear Samuel, serving the priests. Rather, Jesus is in the position of a teacher, discussing Torah, asking questions, and dazzling his hearers with his answers. For his age, Jesus is already filled with a wisdom beyond even that of the wisest teachers of Israel.
Mary is beside herself. She explodes, “Why have you treated us like this?” (If I had a nickel for every time Sarah or I said that to Abby….) “We have been looking all over for you!” Jesus is unbothered by this outburst. “Why were you searching for me? Didn’t you know I must be among my Father’s things?” At least, that’s the literal translation of the Greek. Most English translations go with, “Didn’t you know I must be in my Father’s house?” or “Didn’t you know I must be about my Father’s business?” Both are fine. But for today, let’s stick with the literal translation. Because Jesus is among his favorite things—his Father’s things—that day in the Temple. He is in the house of God, discussing the Word of God with the teachers of Israel. Yet again, his mother’s song is being fulfilled. A precocious Galilean child instructs the elite teachers of Israel. The mighty are brought down and the lowly are lifted up. And Jesus is just where he needs to be.
But Jesus is more than a precocious child. He is the Son of God, just as Gabriel told Mary. He is the Savior, the Messiah, the Lord, as the angels told the shepherds. And the things of his Father are also his things. Colossians elaborates. God in Christ is forming a community around himself, the Word. And that community is marked not by the familiar ways of transactional relationships, but by his self-giving love that wipes away our sins. It is marked by compassion, kindness, gentleness, humility, and patience. By forgiveness and love. None of these things are based on how we feel in any given moment. None of these things make anyone any money. None of these things are politically expedient because they are for all people, not primarily for the rich and powerful. But they are part and parcel of what it means to be a people of God, a people of peace, well-being, and wholeness. A people that love and forgive each other even when times are difficult. When times are anxious. When the joy of the Christmas season fades and we continue on into winter’s darkness. Being a community centered around the love and faithfulness of Christ helps us not only survive such times, but thrive.
Jesus was among his Father’s things in the Temple that day. He was where he needed to be. So today, on the 1st Sunday of Christmas, as the lights fade and we begin to look to the New Year, where do you need to be? How might we, as this community of faith at Shalom Lutheran Church, continue to shine the light of Christ in dark places, celebrating the things of God in the middle of this world? Sure, Christmas is a special time for proclaiming and living out God’s light. But beyond the Christmas season, his community with its gospel values—the Father’s things—endures. The things of God—word, sacrament, forgiveness, love, mercy, peace—are for the people of God, in every time and every season. Amen.
© 2024, David M. Fleener. Permission granted to copy and adapt original material herein for non-commercial purposes with appropriate credit given.