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Luke 2:41-52

Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them. Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

By: The Rev. David P. Byer

Scripture makes it clear that the child born of the Virgin Mary is not the son of Joseph or of any other man for that matter, but the Son of God. Luke tells us that Mary, Joseph, and Jesus had gone to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. When the festival ended they started home but, unbeknown to Mary and Joseph, Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. When they discovered this Mary and Joseph returned to Jerusalem to search for Jesus. After three days they found him in the temple. The gospel passage does not tell us what went through Joseph’s mind and heart during those three days as he and Mary searched. The gospel does not record one word coming from the mouth of Joseph. The entire story of the life of Jesus happens in deep Joseph silence. Throughout the gospels Joseph never says a word. His silence is not, however, simply the absence of words. It is always about the presence of his choices. Joseph fearlessly chose life every step of the way, regardless of the rules and social pressures of the day. We must be cautious that we are always in danger of keeping the rules and diminishing life in the process. Human life is not disposable. Every life, from conception to natural death,

regardless of physical and mental capacity, has inherent value and is a precious treasure from God, filled with His divine presence. Humanity is the most complete expression of God’s creation. It is the place where God lives and the fullest revelation of God’s life.

That is why all human life is so very precious. From the moment of our conception up to and including our death we make entrances. Conception is the entrance into life in the womb. Birth is the entrance into life in the world. Baptism is the entrance into life in the family of God. And death is the entrance into heaven and eternal life.

Our entrance into the divine life and presence is not found apart from the material world but in a deeper experience of the material world. That is part of what it means for God to become human. That’s what the incarnation is all about. That is what Advent is preparing us for, a deeper experience in divine presence. It is the Divine Presence that
filled Joseph with life that enabled him to meet the physical realities, trust the night mysteries, and perform the daytime obligations. Perhaps the silence of Joseph is his most profound witness. His commitment revealed the truth of his heart during those three
days as he and Mary searched. Joseph’s greatest witness was his capacity to “do the right thing”. Like Joseph, we who share in the life given to us in Christ have the responsibility to share His risen life with others by always “doing the right thing”. Our life
brings life to others. Our light brings light to others. None of us lives an individual life apart from others. We are all interconnected. Every time we choose life we make Christ present in the world. Deuteronomy 30:19 says, “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse.

Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live.” The next person we meet may set before us a choice between life and death. It may be at lunch, at work, running errands, at school or at any one of a thousand different places. Regardless, the choice will be there. Which will you choose?