In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The prophet Isaiah proclaims, “Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.” In today's Gospel lesson, these words find a sort of fulfillment.
St. Luke records that when Jesus was twelve years old, He went with His family to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, just like they did every year. They went to the Temple like good Jews. They sacrificed their Passover lamb like good Jews. They said the ritual prayers and ate the ritual Passover meal like good Jews. And they recalled the history of God delivering His people out of slavery in Egypt like good Jews.
Mary and Joseph, and the others in their entourage, were good, pious Jews. They did what the Law required of them in terms of their worship “according to the custom of the feast,” as St. Luke records. That is, they did the religious things that had become habit for them. In this, they are not unlike most church-going people, or observant people of whatever religion. Why are you here this morning? Is it because of a burning desire to hear some guy in fancy robes drone on? Or is it because you are accustomed to coming here at this time on this day of the week and doing these things?
