THE BOY CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE: A SERMON FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

A Greek Icon of the Child Emmanuel Teaching the Elders in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem 

By Bp. Joseph (Ancient Church of the West) 

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Amen. +

INTRODUCTION 

Today, as we celebrate the First Sunday after Epiphany, the Church presents to us the image of the “Boy Christ in the Temple”, a passage that is as profound as it is mysterious. It is in this moment, at the age of twelve, that we catch a glimpse of the eternal wisdom of the Son of God, fully human and fully divine. As the Scriptures recount, Christ, in a moment of profound clarity, declares to His parents, “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49). This is not merely a declaration of youthful independence; it is a profound assertion of His divine identity. The moment offers us a powerful reflection on the nature of our Christian vocation - our calling to be about our Father’s business.

MEETING THE BOY CHRIST 

At the center of this story is Christ’s first, and perhaps the most direct, expression of His divine mission. The “Bar Mitzvah” ceremony, which would have marked this significant stage in the life of a Jewish boy, is often a time of transition - an acknowledgement that one is coming of age. Only when a boy was recognized as a man, at twelve, was he allowed to read the Scriptures in the temple and synagogue. While the Jewish context of this event is vital, the deeper meaning in this passage transcends culture and time. Christ, the Son of God, is not only coming of age; He is embracing His identity as the Son of the Heavenly Father, and this act speaks directly to us about the responsibility of knowing who we are in God’s eyes.

REFLECTIONS ON THE BLESSED MOTHER 

For the Holy Theotokos, this moment was both a revelation and a source of deep inner turmoil. We are told that after hearing Christ’s words, she “kept all these sayings in her heart” (Luke 2:51). Can we imagine the heartfelt love, the bewildering fear, and the overwhelming responsibility she must have felt as a mother? The joy of seeing her Son teaching in the Temple - proclaiming divine truths with the wisdom of the ages - must have been tempered with the sorrow of knowing that the time was fast approaching when this Child, the promised Messiah, would leave her and walk the path of the Cross. It was through her own acceptance of God’s will that she became the perfect model of the faithful servant, who, though deeply affected by the unfolding of divine purposes, remains steadfast in trust. She was the epitome of Christian discipleship: obedient, receptive, and willing to lay down her own understanding for the will of God.

REFLECTIONS ON THE BLESSED STEP-FATHER 

And then, we turn to St. Joseph, who, though silent in the Gospel accounts, is a crucial figure in the life of Christ. As the “Caretaker of Our Lord”, Joseph represents the manly responsibility of fatherhood and guardianship, holding the family together in the midst of mystery and divine revelation. He too must have pondered these things in his heart, seeking to guide and protect, even when the full understanding of his role was veiled in mystery. His heart was the heart of a servant, and his actions demonstrated the strength of a man who understood that his role was not one of earthly power, but of faithful stewardship.

LEARNING FROM THIS SCENE 

In each of these figures - the “Boy Christ Becoming a Man”, the Holy Mother, and the Just Man, St. Joseph - we see models of Christian life. Christ exemplifies divine identity and mission, the Theotokos exemplifies humble, obedient discipleship, and Joseph shows us faithful, responsible service. These three roles echo through the life of the Church today and offer us direction on how to live. 

The message of this passage for us is clear: we are called, like Christ, to be about our Father’s business. But what does this mean for us, living in the modern world? How do we discern the will of God for our lives, especially when the distractions of this world pull us in so many different directions?

DISCERNING GOD’S WILL

The truth is, the Scriptures already provide us with a blueprint for discerning God's will and setting our priorities. In Romans 12:1–5, St. Paul exhorts us to offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God. We are to present our bodies - our very lives - as holy, living sacrifices, which is our “reasonable service.” We are not to be conformed to the world, but to be “transformed” by the renewing of our minds which happens as we read and digest Scripture, and constantly pray, calling on the Name of Jesus. This transformation involves a radical change of perspective: we begin to see not just what we want to do, but what God desires of us.

In this light, we can measure the validity of our goals and actions. To be about our Father’s business means that we are prioritizing the things of God above all else, and the Scriptures tell us clearly what those priorities should be.

1. Sacrificial - Our work must be sacrificial. As Christ laid down His life for us, we too must be willing to lay down our lives for others.

2. Worshipful/Prayerful - Our work must be worshipful and constantly centered in prayer, remembering Who God is and how sinful, needy and tiny we truly are. Whatever we do, we do for the glory of God, remembering that our highest calling is to glorify Him.

3. Thankful - Our work must be thankful. The Christian life is one of continual gratitude for the grace we have received, and our actions should flow from this thankful heart.

4. Gracious and Concerned with the Salvation of Others - We must always be mindful of the salvation of others, for this is the true work of the Church. We cannot be consumed only with our own personal success or comfort; we must care for the spiritual needs of others.

5. Using Resources as Stewards for the Blessing of Families, Churches, and Missions - Our material resources should be used wisely and for the good of God’s Kingdom. This means caring for our families, supporting our local Church, and advancing the mission of the Gospel in the world.

6. Allowing for Personal Spiritual Growth and Sanctification - Finally, our work must allow space for our own personal growth in holiness. If we are too busy or too distracted by worldly concerns, we will lose sight of the inner transformation that Christ desires for each of us. Anything that makes us less holy is not God’s will, and we can confidently turn away from such opportunities and plans. 

If any of our goals interfere with these principles, we can be sure that they are not of God. As the Scriptures tell us, we must test everything and discern the will of God through the lens of Christ’s work and His Kingdom.

THE HARMONY OF SCRIPTURE 

All of today’s other readings harmonize beautifully with this message. The call of young Samuel reminds us that God speaks to those who are humble and ready to listen. The Psalmist celebrates God’s intimate knowledge of us - “Thou hast searched me, and known me.” And, again, St. Paul’s call to us to transformation through the renewal of our minds. Together, they show that discerning God’s will is not a momentary act but a lifelong journey, grounded in personal and liturgical prayer, Scripture, and the sacramental life of the Church. This is the reason for the sacramental and transformative grace of the Church, which God empowers by the indwelling Holy Spirit for our constant edification and growth. 

SUMMARY

In conclusion, let us enter into the heart of the Boy Christ in the Temple, where wisdom, love, and responsibility converge in one icon of grace, the only scene from Christ’s childhood to be revealed to us. Let us enter the hearts of His Holy Mother, filled with awe and love, and St. Joseph, whose heart is strong, responsible, actively obedient, stewarding the gifts of God and yet tender, as he takes up the holy fostership of the Child of God. Let us learn from their examples, and, like them, may we always be about our Father’s business.

POEM 

In the Temple, midst the crowd, 

A Boy speaks, His words ring loud, 

Not with thunder, nor with flame, 

But with wisdom and free of shame. 

The Mother stands, her heart in awe, 

She knows her Child, but feels the Law 

Of Heaven’s will that calls Him higher, 

To feed the Flame of Holy Fire. 

And Joseph’s heart, so firm and true, 

Beats with love, as good men do - 

Yet in his heart, it is a great mystery, 

Of God’s great love, of Christ’s great plea. 

And we, who now this story tell, 

Find our hearts, in love, do swell, 

To follow Him, to serve, to learn, 

To see His light, His love, to burn.

We are called by this Boy

To follow on

To pick up Crosses 

And follow on

To push through pain and joy

Still follow on

Through all our losses 

And continue to follow on

Till at last, like Holy Mary and Joseph

We come to the Temple fair

And sit at the feet of the Child Christ

In His temple in the air 

In this Temple’s quiet glow,

The Boy Christ sits, His wisdom flows.

Among the elders, His light breaks through,

A glimpse of Heaven, holy, true.

His Mother’s heart, both fear and grace,

Seeks her Son in this sacred place.

And Joseph stands, with steadfast care,

A guardian of God’s dwelling there.

Here we see what we are to be:

Children of God, from sin set free.

To seek His will, to know His voice,

In sacrifice and love, and always rejoice.

May we, like the Holy Family, embrace our calling with faith, humility, and devotion, always about our Father’s business. 

Let us pray…

COLLECT 

O Almighty and Everliving God, who didst reveal Thy wisdom and will in the Temple through Thy beloved Son, even as a child, that He might show us the way of obedience and the call to be about Thy business: Grant that we, who have been made Thy sons and daughters in Holy Baptism, may so order our lives by Thy holy Word that, in sacrifice, thanksgiving, and worship, we may seek to grow in holiness, proclaim Thy Gospel with gracious hearts, and faithfully steward the gifts entrusted to us, for the salvation of others and the glory of Thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.