First Sunday of Christmas, Year C 

JESUS LOST AND FOUND 

Luke 2:41-52 
First Sunday of Christmas, Year C 
Analysis by Robin Lutjohann   

41Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. 42And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. 43When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. 44Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. 45When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. 46After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, ‘Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.’ 49He said to them, ‘Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’ 50But they did not understand what he said to them. 51Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.  
52And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.  

“Christ turns up in the most unexpected place, saying with a glint in his eye: ‘Well, why wouldn’t I be here?’”

DIAGNOSIS: Lost

Step 1: Initial Diagnosis (External Problem):  Losing Christ 
People talk about finding Jesus, but have you ever lost him? Happens all the time. We think we get him; we know his ways and what he’s up to and we’ve figured out where he can be found. We get used to his presence. But then, one day, we look in the usual places – and poof. Suddenly we don’t see him, feel him, hear him anymore. “Where are you, Jesus?” 

Step 2: Advanced Diagnosis (Internal Problem):  Angry at Christ 
Then we wonder: “Do you even care? Why would you disappear on me like that? Why would you leave me all alone when I needed you? Why would you treat me like this? Are you even out there at all?”  We lose faith. 

Step 3: Final Diagnosis (Ultimate Problem):  Giving up on Christ 
After wandering through the wilderness for so long, worn down by the harshness of our environment, we are tempted to conclude that the promise of the Incarnate One was nothing but a mirage.  We are left on our own. 

PROGNOSIS: Found

Step 4: Initial Prognosis (Ultimate Solution):  Surprised by Christ 
Until he turns up in the most unexpected place, saying with a glint in his eye: “Well, why wouldn’t I be here?” “Here” he is, in the midst of our doubting and abandonment, in the midst of our death and sin, bringing us new life. 
Once we accept Jesus’ freedom to act independently of our wishes, we can let him operate in surprising ways and in unusual circumstances.  

Step 5: Advanced Prognosis (Internal Solution):  Letting Christ be Christ 
When we were intent on keeping him confided to our expectations, he elusively slipped from our grasp. But once we give up our control, we can delight in seeing Jesus roam free in our lives… and dare to trust him to be there when we need him.    

Step 6: Final Prognosis (External Solution):  Expecting Christ 
As we get used to Jesus’ freedom to do as he might, there is born in us a new confidence in his activity in our world.  We become Advent and Christmas people, seeing everywhere a preparation for his arrival, raising our heads with hope in his appearing, and knowing:  Christ is on the loose. Thanks be to God!