ON GROWING - This lesson is enclosed by two summary verses-the child grew and
became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him (v. 40), and Jesus
increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor (v. 52). What happens in
between these two statements provides a single glimpse of such growth.
SON OF THE LAW - The story of Jesus in the Temple occurs only in Luke; the purpose
seems to be to provide the reader with the sense that Jesus was from a child nourished on
Jewish ritual and faith, that is, Jesus was a true Israelite. As Craddock says,
"Home, temple, and synagogue formed him, and no subsequent criticisms of his ministry
or message could trace charges against him to heretical, unfaithful, or misguided
influences on his formation." [1]
BEDE THE VENERABLE [673-735] - Nothing of what was said or done by the boy Jesus fell
idly on Mary’s mind. As before, when she conceived the
Word itself in her womb, so now does she hold within her his ways and words, cherishing
them as it were in her heart . . . this practice she followed as a rule and law through
all her life. [2]
Mary reacts to crises by pondering
or treasuring in her heart what God says or does. She does this when she faces the shame
of becoming an unwed mother; when she responds to the shepherds’ visit in a stable;
and, in this passage, when she copes with the increasing independence of her
twelve-year-old son (1:29; 2:19, 51). How might Mary’s response be an example to you?
How could you respond more prayerfully to the events in your life?
What event in your life needs more pondering instead of worrying, fixing or
withdrawing? [3]
This lesson raises the general topic
of how Jesus grew into his ministry. Two options have played out over the centuries - a
sort of chicken or the egg discussion - that you might begin your homily with.
Option #1: Jesus the Extraordinary. This view, championed by early Gnostic sects and
included in the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, has a fully wise and knowledgeable
twelve-year-old god who "put to silence the elders and teachers of the people,
expounding the sections of the law and sayings of the prophets." Then, in this
account, the Pharisees respond to Mary with praise for Jesus, exclaiming, "For such
glory and such excellence and wisdom we have never seen nor heard." [4]
I would play with that option-wouldn’t it be nice if we could just circumvent
growth completely? Create scenarios that reconstruct lives and worlds using this option.
No more studying for exams-we’d know all the answers. No need to go through
suffering-we could write books about it without going through the school of hard knocks.
No need for the football team to run through their plays-everyone would know it a priori!
You get the idea!
Some Christians really did not like a normal Jesus who grew through pain ("ouch, I
missed the nail with my hammer!") so they manufactured a Jesus who was instantly wise
and knowledgeable. That’s Option #1.
Option #2: Jesus the Ordinary. This option closely resembles the Jesus that Luke
presents to us. Luke goes in and clears the air of cobwebs of fanciful stories and
astounding mighty acts by a little boy. This is no wizard, no Harry Potter who bedazzles
through uncommon and other worldly resources not available to us. This is Jesus who grows
through the resources available-not to underestimate God’s work through those
resources-who asks more questions and giving answers.
Move finally to how God grows us-two options: the zap method or the process method.
Suggest specific steps your hearers may want to take as they seek to grow in wisdom and
stature with God and humanity.
