My Father’s House

Lk 2:41-52

 

1. Now we are in the middle of winter with continuous snow, freezing wind, icy road and frigid temperature. On the last Monday, temperature dropped to -14F, i.e., -26C. In this cold weather, we are advised to stay home. Home is a warm and safe place, but it is said that home is where the heart is. Home and family are inseparable, and home is love. Therefore, home without family and love is not so warm place.

2. People leave home in morning and return home in evening. Home is the base of life where we rest and sleep, we are recharged and refreshed, and we share our love and joy as well as sorrow. Home is the center of our life. Home is the dock of our life where we drop our anchor. To children, home is where their father and mother are there. On the next Sunday, Sullal in Korea and the Far East, everybody returns to their great home where their father and mother are waiting.

3. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but fled to Egypt in fear of King Herod who tried to kill Him. After Herod’s death, Jesus family returned to Nazareth and lived until His public ministry. And, “every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover.”(41) There was only one temple in the whole Israel, though there were many synagogues in town. Therefore, so many people visited Jerusalem temple for Passover out of all towns of Israel. So, it was very crowded and easy to lose people. Joseph and Mary assumed that Jesus would be with “their relatives and friends.”(44) “When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.”(45-46) “When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.’”(48)

4. What was Jesus’ answer? “Why were you searching for me? Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?”(49) It was strange, and even seemingly impolite. Jesus was not a rebellious teenager. It is written that “then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them.”(51) Then, what was it? They found a wonderful scene that a 12 years old boy discussed hard topics with old teachers and they were “amazed at his understanding and his answers.”(47) Mary and Joseph know who He really is. Therefore, even though they did not really understand Jesus’ answer itself, they were not angry. Rather, “his mother treasured all these things in her heart.”(51)

5. To a good child, it is natural and necessary that “I had to be in my Father’s house.” The temple of God was the real home where His real Father is present. Even though he was born in Bethlehem, immigrated to Egypt, and now lived in Nazareth, Jesus knows that His real home is “my Father’s house.” For us too, even though we left our hometown and our father’s house, made our own family, and now we are living in a foreign land far from my father’s house, we always think our father and mother, especially in some memorable times as well as times of great joy or sorrow. But when our father and mother die away, we no longer have my father’s house in this world.

6. When Jesus said that I have to be in my Father’s house, it does not mean that he had to physically be in the Temple forever without going back to Nazareth. It means that we have to live with God always in spirit and heart, wherever we go or live in body. We are called the temple of God the Holy Spirit. We must not forget it in any moment. But our spirit is sometimes restless and wandering, and even rebellious like the Prodigal Son, leaving my Father’s house for free living, that is, wandering. He will return sometimes, but with paying great expense of suffering and waste. In the long epic-style poem “Smoke and Steel” of Carl Sandberg, chapter 28 entitled “the Sins of Kalamazoo” reads as follows:

And the children grow up asking, “What can we do to kill time?”

They grow up and go to the railroad station and buy tickets for

Texas,Pennsylvania,Alaska.

“Kalamazoo is all right,” they say.

“But I want to see the world.”

And when they have looked the world over, they come back saying that

It is all likeKalamazoo.

7. Where is the center of your life? Where is your base of life? Where is you spiritual home? Stop wandering, and drop your anchor in my Father’s house permanently. It is where you began, you came, and you will return. This world seems so attractive, so many things to enjoy, so many places to wander, so many distractions and vanities. Wanderings from place to place, from this to that might be some experience, but life is too precious and short to wander and waste. Moreover, it is not ours but our Lord’s.

8. Great people are those who run straight for one goal and sacrifice all the other attractions. We cannot do everything and achieve something. Make your life simple and strong, not spending so much time for so many worthless things. Simplicity is an essential aspect of spiritual maturity. When many wandering Christians dropped their anchor firmly and permanently in my Father’s house and live in consistency and concentration, their life after such a decision changes greatly and it becomes so productive, fruitful, dedicated and gracious for the Kingdom of God. May God bless you greatly and change your mean life to a wonderful Christian life! Amen.