The text of Rev. Brown’s sermon is below:
Luke 2:41-52
I’m sure many of you have heard the incredible story of Scottish Olympian Eric Liddell. But for those who haven’t, l et me give you the highlights. Eric was born i n China to missionary parents and when the time for him to go to school came, he was sent to a boarding school i n London. Through the school’s athletic programs, Eric became an incredible runner, so much so that he eventually qualified for the 1924 Olympics i n Paris. His specialty was the 100-meter, and he was nearly guaranteed to take home the gold in this event. Yet, when the schedules for the various heats came out, Eric realized that the 100 was scheduled on a Sunday. This was a problem because, as a very devout Christian, he always dedicated the Sabbath completely to God. So, he gave up almost certain Olympic glory to hold on to his convictions. There’s much more to Eric Liddell’s story, but you’ll have to watch the movie Chariots of Fire t o learn how it ends.
Unfortunately, for some people, this became just another legalistic example of how you should always go to church on Sundays and how you should never do any real work on this particular day of the week. But I believe that misses the entire point of Eric’s decision. For me, it’s about displaying integrity when there are competing loyalties. Eric loved to run more than almost anything else in life. His sentiments were expressed clearly when his character in the movie said, “God made me fast. And when I run, I feel his pleasure.” And he was so fast that he eventually was given the nickname “The Flying Scotsman.” But in spite of this deep dedication to running, Eric’s first priority was to do what was right. For him, keeping the Sabbath holy was a commandment he could not break. He was a man of integrity.
The story of the Flying Scotsman may help us better understand this somewhat troubling passage of Scripture we are examining today. Like Eric, Jesus recognized very quickly that he would have competing priorities in life. Even at the tender age of twelve, he started to understand that he had a special mission in life. It doesn’t seem like he completely understood who he was at this point, but this story illustrates that he was beginning to feel torn between two worlds. The first world was respect for his parents, and the other world was fulfilling his mission in life. On the one hand, we know that Jesus does not set out to hurt Mary and Joseph, but on the other hand, we know that he is here for a
very specific purpose…to bring salvation to his people.
Still, the whole thing is troubling on a number of levels. First of all, what kind of parents would walk an entire day while just assuming that their kid is somewhere in the crowd? It sounds like taking your child to an IU game, getting separated during as you’re leaving the stadium, and then just heading back to the car without finding him. None of us would do that! (At l east I hope not.) But I think one thing we need to remember here is that 12 years old back then was more like 20 years old today. After all, people were getting married at 14 and 15 years old, so it wouldn’t be unthinkable to assume your son could find his way back. However, it shows just how good of parents Mary and Joseph were that
they went all the way back to Jerusalem to find their son once they realized he wasn’t part of the caravan.
The other troubling thing about this story is that Jesus seems so flippant about his parents’ anxiety. Instead of saying, “Oh, I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you, but I promise I didn’t mean to disrespect you,” he just asks, “Why were you searching for me?” Typical pre-teen, right? (in smart aleck voice) “I don’t even care, you guys. Just l eave me alone.” Oh boy, if I was Joseph in that situation, I’d be steaming. Don’t you disrespect your mother, young man! But again, I think there’s something else going on here beneath the surface. Have you ever given someone the cold shoulder because you wanted to desensitize them to disappointment? So, you let them down just a little bit now, so that if something much more catastrophic happens later on, it won’t crush them entirely? Or maybe this has been done to you. At any rate, it may not be the best method of dealing with complicated issues, but this very could be what Jesus was trying to do.
These possible explanations don’t make the situation any less disturbing, but we can see how Jesus had to struggle with competing loyalties. Fortunately for us, Jesus chose loyalty to God’s mission over being the perfect son for Mary and Joseph. If not for his integrity amidst various conflicts of interest, we might be completely out of luck. But the truth that we know is that Jesus could not be anything but loyal to God, because in a very real sense, he was and is Emmanuel, God with us. As he told Mary and Joseph, “I have to be about my Father’s business.”
As such, Jesus displays for us what philosopher Immanuel Kant might call a “categorical imperative.” Throughout his life, the choices he makes to trust and obey God become a model for all of us to follow. Undoubtedly, Jesus knew that there would always be competing loyalties in life…your job or your family, doing what’s right or what’s convenient, spending or saving, and on down the list. I know i t’s not always so simple, but sometimes it is. Sometimes, you do have to put your foot down and say, “This is what I believe is the most important, so I’m going to make this particular decision, no matter how difficult it may be.
That’s where Eric Liddell found himself; that’s where Jesus found himself; and it’s also where we quite often find ourselves. As we enter into this new year, I know that many of you will be making certain commitments or resolutions. I know I am…Spend more quality time with my family, lose weight, save money, pay more attention to my spiritual health. I have a laundry list, and I know that, come February, I’ll realize that I can’t do it all, that I have to l et some things fall by the wayside so that I can focus on the most important things. And I know that unexpected things will come up that will throw me off course and make me go back to the drawing board. I know that i t will be tough, but I also know that
success never comes without failure.
Yet, regardless of which goals are achieved and which aren’t, Jesus shows us that the most important priority in life, the one that puts all other loyalties in their proper place, is dedication to God. So I’d like to offer a challenge this year…let us commit our lives to God’s purposes. Let us, first and foremost, aim for a life that is pleasing to God. Let us experience the joy of pledging our loyalty to the One who created us, redeemed us, and sustains us. Let us be about our Father’s business. Amen.