12292021 – Luke 2 – Christmas I
In Luke’s Gospel, the temple is the place to be. There is no place quite like it – in heaven or on earth. It is “totally other.”
Luke’s story begins in the Temple, with Zechariah burning incense on the altar.
He is a priest. He is merely doing his “priestly duty.” It is an honor to burn the incense. Not everyone receives this honor or this opportunity.
“Our prayers “rise up” like incense before you, the lifting up of our hands, as an offering to you.”
The story ENDS in the Temple, as well, with the disciples who have SEEN the crucifixion, EXPERIENCED the resurrection, and WITNESSED the ascension.
After ALL OF THIS, we are told that they are CONTINUALLY in the Temple, day, and night.
The Temple is the “stable center” of a “dangerously chaotic world.”
The Temple is the realm of the HOLY.
It is SAFE. It is SECURE. It is SERENE. (Or so we have been led to believe!)
As we sit here, with programmable locked doors and security cameras!
In the scenario for this evening, Jesus IS IN THE TEMPLE, sitting in the midst of the elders, the rabbi’s, the teachers-of-old, listening to them, and then showing them THE RESPECT that a teacher truly values: he also “ASKED QUESTIONS.” He is picking their minds…and their hearts.
My guess is that NO ONE in that circle was aware of the passage of time.
“Three days?” What already? Are you kidding me? We just sat down. Where did the time go? How is this even possible?
I have MY MOMENTS.
I am only allowed 45 minutes teaching time PER CLASS. Sometimes, I look up and 50 minutes have passed. Or 55 minutes. I routinely tell my confirmands, “YOU HAVE TO WATCH THE CLOCK – I will just keep on talking…”
I get it. TIME does EASILY SLIP AWAY from us.
When it comes to teaching — WHAT WE LOVE and VALUE, we can always use MORE TIME.
Sometimes, the CONFIRMANDS are surprised the time has gone so quickly…where did it go? We just got started! What? Wait? We are over time?
Sometimes…the next class is already arriving…Yikes!
Dennis Schneider and I just shake our heads at each other…
Luke’s storyteller introduces us to Jesus IN THE MIDST OF STUDY.
Jesus apparently loves Jewish TRADITION and HISTORY and sits with the teachers in the Temple, IMMERSED with them – IN A LOVE FOR THE TORAH.
The TORAH being the first five books, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. At one time, believed to have been written by Moses himself, but no longer.
The teachers are DOING what “REAL TEACHERS DO”: they are not stuffing information into Jesus’ head, they are “drawing him” into THEIR SHARED STUDY. They are exploring TOGETHER.
They are searching, questioning, asking questions, playing with words…they are relating…digging deeper…they are seeking, and are ENGAGED.
This means of course, that the storyteller approves of THE TEACHERS as much as of Jesus. They are TOGETHER portrayed as being FAITHFUL JEWS.
While Mary and Joseph come across as being upset…they must “secretly take delight” in seeing their son – so ENGAGED.
He is not fighting them.
He is not hemming and hawing…
He is not asking WHY HE HAS TO GO…
He is not whining and complaining
He is really truly interested…and wants to know more.
He wants to BE THERE.
He wants to be IN the TEMPLE.
Here, there is comfort, solace, and peacefulness.
Here, one is freed from the anxiety of the world. Here, one can bask in the glory of God.
IN THE END: Mary seems to have NOTED what THE TEACHERS in the Temple noted:
Jesus is FASCINATED by the Torah, by Jewish TRADITION by the HISTORY of his people. He was legitimately concerned. He cared. He WANTED to be there. He WANTED to learn. He WANTED to know more. He WANTED to understand…to comprehend…to soak it all in…
She preserved ALL OF THIS in her heart, thinking about what this meant for HOW she should raise her son.
HOW DO YOU criticize him or YELL at him or PUNISH him for the scare he has just put you through?
He has a closeness and a comfortableness with God…and THAT IS a good thing…that, is a BLESSING.
May you find yourself, AS COMFORTABLE and AS CLOSE to God, this night. Amen.