Sermon-Why oh why oh why?

The Problem we all live with – Norman Rockwell, 1964

A sermon given at a service of Holy Communion (BCP) at St Giles-in-the-Fields on Sunday 12th January 2025 – the First Sunday after the Epiphany based on readings from Romans 12.1-5 and Luke 2.41-52 and the Collect appointed for the day.

 

Why oh why oh why?!

 

I suspect that this won’t surprise any parents or teachers amongst us, but a recent study found that on average, children aged between 14 months and 5 years ask 107 questions an hour! That’s about nine every five minutes. Most of the time using just one word:

 

Why?

 

Because at that age, all sorts of new connections are being made in the brain - particularly those that help us to understand how things are related; how one thing happening leads to another. Helping to make children more aware of their place in the world. 

 

This is a period of rapid cognitive development. In the first few years of life the brain grows to 90% of its adult size. In this phase of continual discovery, perhaps it’s not so surprising that in a survey carried out for the church 40% said they came to faith by the age of five. Food for thought for all of us, whether parents, teachers or not.

 

Today our gospel reading offers a glimpse of the boyhood of Jesus – a unique account in the scriptures. 

  

Why? 

  

Well, there are many who say Luke was writing his gospel for a Gentile Christian community and keen to see it grow.

 

His account of the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus is presented in a way that often parallels events in the Old Testament. It is said that this passage, describing the boyhood of Jesus, reflects the infancy story of the prophet Samuel. 

 

Why? 

One explanation might be that the gospel writer wanted to give confidence to the members of the early church that the Christian faith was not another here today, gone tomorrow sect - but fully rooted in the history and heritage of ancient Israel - a provenance highly respected and revered at the time, even amongst non-believers. Suggesting a connection between Samuel and Jesus shows the oneness of God’s purposes, uniting Jews and Gentiles. 

 

Like the endless questions of our children, the gospel writer is acting on a desire to help reveal how things are related - and how one thing happening leads to another. 

 

It’s a passage that has been specially chosen for us to hear at this time of year. 

  

Why?

 

Perhaps so that we have another opportunity to get our heads around the magnitude of the incarnation, which we celebrated a few weeks ago? 

 

The glimpse of Jesus in boyhood a reminder that God took on human flesh. The statement that Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and “in favour with God and man” a reminder - in this season of revelation, of Epiphany, that he is fully human and fully divine. 

 

A truth that we can lose sight of in the busyness of the lead up to Christmas - and those disorientating days afterwards. As Mary and Joseph lost Jesus in the days after the Passover celebrations. 

 

In describing that event, Jesus is revealed to have some awareness of his wider mission and purpose at the age of twelve - a time when he would have been preparing to be admitted as a full male member of the Jewish community. Jesus is shown to understand that he must obey his Father who lies beyond his human family, their culture and traditions. 

 

He exhibits a natural authority that allows him to engage with the learned men of the temple - to the astonishment of all who looked on, including Mary and Joseph, when they eventually catch up with him that is, after three days of frantic searching. A reference which may also have a symbolic meaning? 

 

 

Why?

 

 

Because - as he later prophesises himself more than once, the events leading to end of his life on earth will take place in Jerusalem, where he will visit the temple once again to teach and preach. This time the astonishment of the Chief Priests and Pharisees will turn to anger and a plot to kill Jesus, whose death on the cross - and his resurrection three days later - will reset the relationship between God and his people forever. The lost sheep brought back into the fold. 

 

An event which could have no meaning unless Jesus was both fully human and fully divine. Anything less would make a reset of that relationship only partially complete. 

 

This account of Jesus’ boyhood may therefore be presented in a way that prefigures the end of his earthly life. 

 

 

Why? 

 

Maybe this passage isn’t just about Him increasing in wisdom, and stature and in favour with God and man. But about us growing up too?

 

Like those childhood questions, the scripture helps us to expand our horizons - our understanding of how things are related; how one thing leads to another. Helping us to increase in wisdom about the person and purpose, of Jesus. 

And, with the other readings and prayers we are presented with this morning, I think they help us to grow in understanding of our identity as Christians. To help us to work out our purpose and place in the world as followers of Christ. In the same way that young children seeking to make sense of their place in the world continually ask;

Why? 

In his letter, St Paul urges members of the house churches of Rome to live their lives according to the person of Christ. To walk in his ways. To present their bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. 

Doing so, he explains, has a transformative effect – both individually and for the whole community. By seeking to follow Christ in our lives, we come to know him more clearly and so know each other and ourselves – all God’s children, by adoption through faith. This is made possible by the gift of grace – the Spirit – we have received from Him. 

But we are not to rest on our laurels or think any more of ourselves now we have received this great gift. We are all members of the same body, the church – but this is a church militant, not yet triumphant. 


Why? 

Because the whole world has not yet turned to embrace the new life that Jesus revealed on the cross - and because following in his footsteps is difficult - even the most faithful get lost on the way.

 

Whether it’s natural disasters, megalomaniac global influencers or personal issues in our own lives, we are never far from being reminded of the flawed nature of this broken world.

Today’s Collect – the prayer for this week printed on the pew sheet that was said near the beginning of the service, reminds us that there are times when we simply don’t know what to do. When we have no idea how to proceed. When we begin to question who we are and our place in the world. When all we can do is ask;

 

Why?

In those times we can but pray to God that he hears our cries and that we may come to know his will – through Jesus Christ, our Lord. And we come to know him by seeking to live as he lived. Acting justly and with mercy towards others.

Why?  

How we respond to young children asking that question has a significant impact on their development. Our growth in faith is no different. 

Today the scriptures offer us a glimpse of the boyhood of Jesus – of his parents finding him in the temple. We realise that it’s not him who is lost at all, but everyone else. He is exactly where he is meant to be. 

 

The gospel reminds us of the importance of finding - and continually rediscovering - Him.

Embracing the person of Jesus, fully human and fully divine, who was born, died and rose again for us and for our salvation. 

 

Learning to trust the one in whom our true identity, the purpose and meaning of our lives is revealed - who knows who, what and where we are meant to be.

 

The one who was and is and will be the only answer to our cries of

Why oh why oh why?!

Image : The Problem we all live with – Norman Rockwell, 1964.