On the First Sunday after Epiphany, traditional Books of Common Prayer from 1549 through 1928 focus on the visit of the twelve-year-old Jesus to the Temple. The epiphany or manifestation of the youthful Jesus in St. Luke 2:41-52 shows forth both His true humanity and His divine Sonship. In this contexr. Luke 2:52 concludes, "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man."
As a youth and throughout His life on earth, our Lord Jesus Christ embodied both unique and ordinary characteristics. He had a unique relationship with God the heavenly Father, but He knew that He was called to live as a real (and ideal) human being. As Luke indicates, Jesus experienced normal but perfected human growth and development.
This mystery of the Incarnation calls for our faithful response. As Christians, we affirm the manifestation of God in Christ. The eternal Word has become flesh and lived among us as true man. While we are far from His perfection, we are called to follow Him. We seek divine grace to follow Him and grow in wisdom and holiness.
No comments:
Post a Comment