“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.” Luke 2:48-52
It must have been difficult for Joseph and Mary being the earth parents of the Son of Man and the Son of God. We can imagine that He always knew right from wrong and related what His Father had said about life on this earth to their daily activities, what was done right and where there was room for improvement. At times He must have been a source of exasperation for them as in the about verses from Luke. When my daughters were little they took tap dancing lessons and one place they enjoyed ‘practicing’ their routines was on the tile floors in the grocery store and while other shoppers seemed to enjoy their smiles it was a time for me to look the other way and distance myself from their clatter. When my oldest daughter had completed her freshman year in college and returned to Lincoln for the summer we happened to be in a grocery store and while I was selecting produce she broke into a tap dance routine and brought a smile to my face, recalling back in the day moments. These children attend the Lutheran school in Ouanaminthe and their parents must be very proud of their achievements and also marvel at their knowledge of their Heavenly Father who loves them and His Son Jesus who saved them…and us too. Please just put your mind on pause for a moment and consider that each of us are really within our Father’s house on this side of Heaven…tap dancing. He created this world and we occupy His space and we daily strive to live a life that will be the way our life with be in Heaven, serving and enjoying Him. I am closing today with the words from the hymn ‘Within the Father's House’ that were written by James R. Woodford in 1863.
“Within the Father's house the Son hath found His home, and to His Temple suddenly the Lord of Life hath come. The doctors of the Law gaze on the wondrous Child and marvel at His gracious words of wisdom undefiled. Yet not to them is given the mighty truth to know, to Iift the earthly veil which hides Incarnate God below. The secret of the Lord escapes each human eye, and faithful pondering hearts await the full epiphany. Lord, visit Thou our souls and teach us by Thy grace each dim revealing of Thyself with loving awe to trace, till from our darkened sight the cloud shall pass away and on the cleansed soul shall burst the everlasting day; till we behold Thy face and know as we are known Thee, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Coequal Three in One.”
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay