Difference between revisions of "Sermon for September 6, 2020"

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Today is back to school Sunday, and I'm reminded of the story about a young high school student who was failing in his math class.  His parents, desperate to help him, decided to take him out of the public school and enrolled him instead at the local Catholic school.  After just a few weeks, the boy brought home a progress report showing straight A's in math. His parents, of course, were pleased, but wanted to know: "How are your math grades suddenly so good?" The son explained, "You know, when I walked into the classroom the first day, and I saw that guy on the wall nailed to a plus sign, I knew this place meant business!"  
 
Today is back to school Sunday, and I'm reminded of the story about a young high school student who was failing in his math class.  His parents, desperate to help him, decided to take him out of the public school and enrolled him instead at the local Catholic school.  After just a few weeks, the boy brought home a progress report showing straight A's in math. His parents, of course, were pleased, but wanted to know: "How are your math grades suddenly so good?" The son explained, "You know, when I walked into the classroom the first day, and I saw that guy on the wall nailed to a plus sign, I knew this place meant business!"  
  
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In today's scripture passage, a young, 12-year-old Jesus goes back to school, though not exactly in the way his parents expected.  As the father of three children of my own, all of whom think that this church building is their personal home-away-from home, I can identify with one aspect of this story:  losing them.  I find myself saying the words, "Has anyone seen my children?" about as frequently as I say the words, "Let us pray" or "In the original Hebrew text..."
  
 
*Others see something in Jesus that his own parents do not.
 
*Others see something in Jesus that his own parents do not.

Revision as of 16:53, 4 September 2020

Luke 2:41-52

41 Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. 43 When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. 44 Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search 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 When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.” 49 He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they did not understand what he said to them. 51 Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.

Back to School Sunday

Today is back to school Sunday, and I'm reminded of the story about a young high school student who was failing in his math class. His parents, desperate to help him, decided to take him out of the public school and enrolled him instead at the local Catholic school. After just a few weeks, the boy brought home a progress report showing straight A's in math. His parents, of course, were pleased, but wanted to know: "How are your math grades suddenly so good?" The son explained, "You know, when I walked into the classroom the first day, and I saw that guy on the wall nailed to a plus sign, I knew this place meant business!"

In today's scripture passage, a young, 12-year-old Jesus goes back to school, though not exactly in the way his parents expected. As the father of three children of my own, all of whom think that this church building is their personal home-away-from home, I can identify with one aspect of this story: losing them. I find myself saying the words, "Has anyone seen my children?" about as frequently as I say the words, "Let us pray" or "In the original Hebrew text..."

  • Others see something in Jesus that his own parents do not.