Sermon Dec. 27, 2009 Lk. 2, Col. 3:12-17

Right after Christmas we see that Jesus grows up. Here here is demonstrating some powerful ability to discuss religious interpretation with elders in the great temple. So taken with the discussion, he loses track of time and stays back when his parents leave.The fears of responsibility are made so apparent here. Like any parents, Joseph and Mary are beset with so many awful possibilities when Jesus disappears. Even though this is Jesus, he remains obedient to them, the word has more of a sense of being under someone's authority. We do not know how long he stayed with them, or started out on his life when he turned thirteen. He's on the cusp of adulthood, so it does not have quite the terror it does of losing a small one in a big store.  CCHS select the attributes of the growing up of Jesus as the motto of the school to grow in wisdom and stature, in favor, or grace with God and others. This is the only place we hear of Jesus as a child after the infancy stories. He grows, just like us. Jesus needs to grow, not only  physically in in a cardinal virtue such as wisdom, Jesus develops into his calling.

 

Before this we meet two of my favorite characters Anna and Simeon. I picture them both as old, so they make a frame for the story of young and old alike. Like New Year's it represents the passing of one age, and the dawn breaking of a new age. Sometimes, we wonder if we will live to see a hoped for change. Simeon brings a mixed blessing. Just as in Mary's prayer, some will do well and some won't. Even Mary, the mother of the child, will not live outside the realm of trouble and pain.

 

As New Year's approaches, the idea of a new set of clothes as virtues is appealing image as the New Year's baby. A lot of us get some new clothes for Christmas presents. I think this is a takeoff on the new baptismal cloak to symbolize the death of the old and the birth of the new. Its rule on forgiveness is a great way to try to let go of the resentments that pole up during the past year. With what should we decorate our lives? The answer is kindness, gentleness, and compassion. the crowning touch in the outfit, what pulls the outfit together, is love. All these words deal with how we treat others. Kindness has the sense of kin, of family, as in kindred spirits. Gentleness in Greek can have the sense of being well-balanced, neither too hot nor too cold., neither a doormat nor someone who insists on their own way, as Paul has it in the love section of Corinthians.

 

I saw Up in the Air, as our daughters recommended it by saying 'this is really quite sad, Dad would like this." George Clooney plays a type of Scrooge, but he likes the solitude of travelling. Over the course of the movie, he changes some, most notably he starts to do acts of kindness for others, without regard for his own time and comfort. It seems to be a first for him. As he reflects on human nature, he realizes as he says, "it's good to have company, the best times in your life as usually with other people." The virtues of Colossians allow us to enjoy being with other people. It is rare that we have to fight for a principle. We often wish to fight over small things as a way of dealing with some other resentment. Some folks wish to deal with potential conflict by trying to run roughshod over others by control.