December 28 2020
| Good afternoon, “ ” When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.” Luke 2:39-40 The above picture is of the angelic part of the birth. As most women who give birth, this is not all of the story. There is pain in pushing, or having a caesarean. Mary was not at home or in a hospital. We do not know how long she was in Bethlehem. In Matthew, it says that Mary and Joseph had to flee after the Wise Men showed up, and they lived as refugees in Egypt. They moved back to Nazareth after Herod died. What was life like for Jesus as a three year old ? We do not have anything about his childhood until we have a story about him at 12 years of age. When did Jesus become aware that he was the Son of God ? What kind of parents were Joseph and Mary ? Did they spoil Jesus, or were they helicopter parents ? When Jesus was growing up, did he have some good friends who treated him normally ? What is normal for the Son of God ? There is mystery for me with the early life of Jesus. I know how being a refugee affected my mom and dad. I wonder what kind of trauma was part of Jesus’ life, after being in the enemy land , Egypt. I think about what it was like for his parents as they lived there. And what did they feel when they came back to Nazareth ? Some thoughts and prayers for today. Fred |