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Monday, December 28, 2009
Where Jesus Learned His Wisdom
1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26; Luke 2:41-52
Anne Lamott's son Sam was 13 years old, edging into adolescence, and she was several paces into menopause herself. One day she confessed their escalating struggles to her friend Father Tom, who gave her this sage theological advice: "In biblical times, they used to stone a few thirteen-year-olds with some regularity, which helped keep the others quiet and at home. The mothers were usually in the front row of stone throwers, and had to be restrained."
That not so pastoral word somehow settled her nerves and strengthened her for the travails of parenting an adolescent. In the midst of one heart and soul wrenching episode with upstart Sam, Annie reflected on what life must have been like for Mary and Jesus when he was about Sam's age.
We see [Jesus]... speaking to the elders in the Temple. He's great with the elders, just as Sam is always fabulous with other grown-ups. They can't believe he's such an easygoing kid, with such good manners. In the Temple, Jesus says things so profound that the elders are amazed. "Who's this kid's teacher?" they wonder. They don't know that Jesus' teacher was the Spirit.
But at the same time he's blowing the elders away, how is Jesus treating his parents? I'll tell you: He's making them crazy. He's ditched them. They can't find him for three days. Some of you know what it's like not to find your kid for three hours. You die. Mary and Joseph have looked everywhere, in the market, at the video arcade. Finally they find him, in the last place they thought to look -- the Temple. And immediately, he mouths off: "Oh, sorry, sorry, I was busy doing all this other stuff, my Father's work. Like, Joseph, you're not my real father -- you're not the boss of me. I don't even have to listen to you."
And what is Mary doing this whole time?
Mary's got a rock in her hand.
(In Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith, pages 98-99)
On the Sunday after Christmas, I preached on that story of Jesus in the Temple at the age of 12. It was Passover time, and this was sort of his Bar Mitzvah. Actually, it was just after the end of Passover. His family had left for home with a caravan of pilgrims, and only after a day's journey did they realize Jesus wasn't in the group. Desperate, hearts in their throats, they beat a path back to Jerusalem to try and find him. Finally, at the Temple, there he was, as described above.
I have to say, my treatment of the situation was somewhat kinder and gentler than Anne Lamott's.
For example, I asked myself and the congregation to imagine ourselves twelve again, if possible. To think and feel and hope and worry about being not quite a child anymore but certainly not a grown-up. Occupying some kind of DMZ between the two, not at all sure where to put your weight down but more and more intrigued with all the changes happening inside and all around you.
Why not do that little exercise yourself? See what bubbles up to the surface out of your heart and mind and gut. Follow where it wants to lead you right here and now.
To help you along, just...
Listen to the GODcast!
posted by Jack Buckley at
9:45 AM
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