It is at the age of 13 that Jewish boys participate in their Bar Mitzvah.\u00a0 This is when they become obligated to observe the commandments.\u00a0 Prior to this age they are instructed in the commandments and encouraged to follow but not obligated.\u00a0 The bar mitzvah ceremony formally, publicly marks the assumption of that obligation, along with the corresponding right to take part in leading religious services, to count in a minyan (the minimum number of people needed to perform certain parts of religious services), to form binding contracts, to testify before religious courts and to marry.\u00a0 In the text from Luke, you will note that Jesus has not come of age yet.<\/p>\n
Luke 2:41-47 TVB<\/p>\n
\u201c41<\/sup>Every year during Jesus\u2019 childhood, His parents travelled to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration. 42<\/sup>When Jesus was 12, He made the journey with them. 43<\/sup>They spent several days there, participating in the whole celebration. When His parents left for home, Jesus stayed in Jerusalem, but Joseph and Mary were not aware. 44<\/sup>They assumed Jesus was elsewhere in the caravan that was traveling together. After they had already travelled a full day\u2019s journey toward home, they began searching for Him among their friends and relatives. 45<\/sup>When no one had seen the boy, Mary and Joseph rushed back to Jerusalem and searched for Him.\u00a046<\/sup>After three days of separation, they finally found Him\u2014sitting among a group of religious teachers in the temple\u2014asking them questions, listening to their answers. 47<\/sup>Everyone was surprised and impressed that a 12-year-old boy could have such deep understanding and could answer questions with such wisdom.\u201d[1]<\/a><\/p>\n Here are some interesting facts I found from the book, Power Surge<\/i>, which we have been using for our theme during Lent.<\/p>\n \u201c91 percent of all households in the United States own at least one Bible.<\/p>\n The typical household owns three Bibles.<\/p>\n 38 percent of adults in the U.S. read the Bible during a typical week\u2013not including when they are at church.<\/p>\n Among Bible readers, the average amount of time spent reading the Bible during an entire week is fifty-two minutes-or, about ten minutes a day.”[2]<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n On the surface, the statics seem promising, that is until we reach the amount of time spent in the Bible and the percentage that actually read the Bible.\u00a0 So many people have the greatest book ever written about the greatest story ever told, the love of God for God’s people.\u00a0 Yet so few read it and these that do, do not spend enough time doing so.\u00a0 Why is Bible reading so important?\u00a0 It is one of the tools that is used to forge discipleship.\u00a0 Reading the Bible is a start but to study, meditate and discuss the scripture provides so much more.<\/p>\n Jesus in our text today, is discussing with others, the scriptures that were available to the Jewish people at the time.\u00a0 Not only was he asked questions but he was in conversation and asked his own questions.\u00a0 We know later that Jesus will tell his disciples, us, that where two or more are gathered in His name, He will be present.<\/p>\n It is through the study not just reading, but study, that we look for Word, The Christ, to provide us guidance and insight through the God inspired human written words in the Bible.\u00a0 To study the Bible alone is not bad but nowhere as effective as to study with others.\u00a0 We trust that the Spirit will work in and through those present in the study.\u00a0 Thereby those present in the study hear the Word, as one part of the Trinity.<\/p>\n When we encounter the Word, our lives can be changed.\u00a0 As always, God will not force God’s self upon us, but waits for the invitation.\u00a0 Reading, meditating on and study of the Bible, are some of those invitations to God.\u00a0 When invited, we are changed in relationships both to God and each other.\u00a0 As a broken people, perfection is not what God desires for us to receive the Word and be changed.\u00a0 Nor do we have to wait to come of age, to be confirmed, have a Bar Mitzvah or for females, a Bat Mitzvah.\u00a0 This can begin at our baptism; it can begin when we encounter God through invitation.<\/p>\n It is because we are a broken people that the Word comes to us and through the road of discipleship, which includes Prayer, Weekly Worship and Reading of the Bible, changes us so that we can begin to understand and attempt to live out the Greatest Commandments.\u00a0 Discipleship has many tools in the toolbox and all need to be explored, used over and over so that we can do as Jesus says, \u201c\u2026\u2018Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.\u2019 38 <\/sup>This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 <\/sup>And the second is like it: \u2018Love your neighbor as yourself.\u2019 40 <\/sup>All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.\u201d [3]<\/a><\/sup><\/sup><\/p>\n It is then we are a changed people, living out life on earth, with the kingdom of heaven breaking through to the here and now.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [1]<\/a> Excerpt From: Ecclesia Bible Society. \u201cThe Voice Bible.\u201d Thomas Nelson, 2012-02-23<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stpatselkhorn.org\/portals\/0\/bible-Sunlight.jpg?resize=461%2C278\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\n