Usually.  That is today’s theme word and what an interesting word it is.  In many ways it is similar to saying, “but that is how we have always done it.”  How many time have we said that? 

However, saying, “we usually do it that way,”  has a bit of a different ring.  It has the air of an  invitation that maybe something could be different.  For many this is scary. 

In our text today, Luke 2:41-52,  the word usual reminds us of custom.  “And when he [Jesus] was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival.”  It was an important part of Mary and Joseph’s faith experience to attend the festival of passover, as such they had a usual routine that allowed them to be committed to the celebration.  What a beautiful thing this custom was!  Not a way to avoid doing something, but their “usual” was an encouragement to live vibrantly their faith life. Kudos to them that they did not let their  “usual” practice prevent then from being intimate with God  

However, their return  experience was anything but usual.  Jesus was missing.  Jesus by nature of his own faith need and calling to experience a life of faith, had a different plan.  He needed something a bit different that the usual experience of custom, and set about meeting that need for himself.   Vs 46 “They found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.” 

Jesus’ need for learning, to his parents was an unsual moment that caused them great panic.  For Jesus however it was necessary.  To his parents it was  unusual.  It was different.  Even as Jesus grows, his learning, and his eventual teachings were expressed in an unusual manner from the “usual” expectations. 

Have we ever been confronted with such a situation and how did we respond?  I once had a friend that put only blue lights on her christmas tree.  It was unusual for me as my custom is multicolored light. Did that make her expression of faith bad?  No, just not my usual.  For her it brought her closer to God.  For some people Christmas dinner is seafood.  For others it is turkey.  Both honor the day and the Lord. 

This year it will be unusual for me to celebrate the birth of our Lord in a climate that is so warm.  I never imagine decorating a palm tree for a nativity scene.  It is not usual for me. However, if I take stock in this “unusal” practice it teaches me, that maybe my “usual” practice of decorating a pine tree isn’t so accurate and has actually prevented me from learning the richness of what it was like in Jesus time and place.  Now the unusual has become my teacher  

When we encounter prefereces for faithful expression that are not our “usual” custom, how do we respond?  Do we panic and feel threathened or do we wonder,  “How does this unusuall expression of faith help me understand more deeply the love of God?”

Let us pray,  Gracious God,  help us to see the beauty of our faith in the customs we practice.  Help us to  learn about you  through ancient practices.  Simultaneously,  teach us to not be afraid of what we might think is “unusual” faith practices.  Reveal yourself to us as we take the place of learner in the wonderful diversity of this world, guiding our eyes to stay on you and honor you.  In Jesus name.  Amen.   

Today’s challenge.  Read Luke 2:41-52.  Think about the word “usual”  Take a picture of the word or write about it.  Share your thoughts on social media using the #messiahlutheranpc  #signs4life  #AdventPhotos