Text: Luke 2:40-52
Theme:  The (extra)ordinary life
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Introduction – My friend in Christ, does it ever happen to you? Those days in which you look at your life and think, “Is this it?”

Because, you know, there are times when we look at the track record and see the same routines, the same responsibilities. The same conversations. We work, raise kids, pay bills, care for others, try to be faithful in our vocation. Or perhaps a routine of difficulties, problems to be solved, unfinished business. But overall, those days don’t feel dramatic. They feel pretty ordinary, unnoticed even.

It is a feeling that can grip our heart with boredom, anxiety or a sense that something is missing. Am I missing out on my best life?

Things get worse if we compare with other people’s lives, which may look more exciting. You know, they are travelling, they are celebrating, they bought a new car, their family is so perfect … And your life? One day after another, tending to responsibilities, problems and predictable days. Not to mention having to deal with the only crazy family on earth – yours.

In those moments, we may wonder quietly: Does God see this? Does any of it matter after all?

If that’s happened to you, or perhaps it is happening right now, listen to the story we heard in the Gospel today. But not only the story. Think about the big picture here when it comes to the life of Jesus. This story gives us the only glimpse between the manger and the river Jordan. This is one small story placed in the midst of 30 years of ordinary life. On the surface, it sounds like an episode of everyday family life gone sideways. But the bigger picture brings us more.

Jesus in Jerusalem

Luke places this story right in the middle of Jesus’ quiet growing-up years, when he is twelve. No crowds, no disciples, no sermon on the mountain. Just a family trip to Jerusalem with a mishap, and a boy who gives His parents a serious scare. Every parent here knows that “heart-stop” moment—the frantic search, the rising panic in the gut. Mary and Joseph felt that for three days, until they finally find Him in the Temple.

In this story we’re told three important things.

First, Jesus grows. “He grew and became strong, filled with wisdom.” Not pretending to be human. A real human being. He learns,  He matures, He develops over time, just like every other child in that world.

Second, Jesus knows where He belongs. When Mary finally finds Him, anxious and exhausted, Jesus says, “Did you not know that I had to be in my Father’s house?” He’s not being disrespectful. He’s not confused. He knows Mary and Joseph are His earthly parents. But he’s saying something that is clear and important: “This is where I belong. This is what I’m here for.” His life is lived under His Father’s will.

And third, Jesus goes home and obeys. There is, for sure, this one spectacular event –  a 12 year old boy talking with the doctors in Theology at the temple. It is really a one of a kind meeting. But then, after that moment in the Temple, He returns to Nazareth, back to normal life. He’s back to daily routines. Back under the authority of Mary and Joseph.

The Son of God goes home, lives his normal life, and listens to His parents. Did you think you can avoid doing the dishes, cleaning your bedroom or filling the gas tank after using the car because that is not an exciting life? If even Jesus complied, think again.

The fact is that Jesus lived a faithful, ordinary, daily life of obedience. He spends almost thirty years in quiet faithfulness. No spotlight. No public ministry yet. Nazareth. Work. Family. Worship.

Think about it: Here is the most known historical figure ever, known even by non-Christians. History itself is divided by His name.  But out of the 33 years on Earth, only 3 were lived in the spotlight—his public ministry. The other 30 were “boring”, regular, normal life days. [1]

Quiet, ordinary days. If those years mattered for Him, they matter for you too. They are not a failure of God’s plan. They are part of it.

I know, this is hard to swallow, especially contrasting it with the life of those we follow on social media or TV. Many make a living making it look like every day is a thrilling adrenaline rush. It looks lie they are living the life you only wish you had.

But here’s the truth: first of all, if they do that every day, that’s become their ordinary. And believe me, they get tired of that too. Second of all, you know that this type of life—constant emotion, adrenaline—is not possible. Not even desirable. Quiet days, calm hours, ordinary life belong to God’s design for your life too. [2]

And here’s the extraordinary part of this ordinary story: those three years of Jesus’ public ministry—the healings, the teaching, the cross, the empty tomb—they were enough. They were complete. And they weren’t just for the crowds who saw them. They were for you. His extraordinary work makes your ordinary life extraordinarily blessed, because He took you and I from our ordinary life of sin, and gave us a new life. On His cross, he gives us access to His ordinary, daily Grace, which forgives, restores and sustains.

“But what about the times I feel dull or distracted?”

This question exposes something real.  Daily routine may make us forget where we belong. We drift from God’s Word. We lose focus. We tune out in worship. We get distracted in prayer. We let responsibilities pile up until we’re running on autopilot, going through the motions. Our imperfect nature is prone to disconnect us from the things that matter.

Remember: Jesus did not forget. He stays focused where we wander. He listens where we tune out. He remained faithful where we falter.

This means that when you come to worship feeling scattered, Jesus draws your attention to the Father. When you open your Bible and your mind wanders after two verses, the Holy Spirit dwelling in your heart leads you in faith to focus on Him. When you bow your head to pray and can’t find the words, the Spirit prays in and with you. His Word and His Sacrament gather your dispersed mind and attaches it to the blessings that flow from His unending love.

Growth

This Spirit-led life leads to growth. A growth that – it is important to remember – most of the time, feels slow while it’s happening. Sometimes boring. Sometimes invisible. But it’s real. Think about it: You don’t see yourself growing in patience until you look back and realize you handled something last week that would have made you lose it a year ago. You don’t notice yourself growing in faith until you face a crisis and find yourself leaning on God’s promises instead of panicking. You don’t see the fruit of reading Scripture consistently until suddenly a verse comes to mind exactly when you need it.

This growth continues in your kitchen. Your commute, your work, your parenting. Your worries. Your long obedience when no one is watching. Growth that looks like Jesus’—quiet, steady, often hidden. But it’s happening

When you look at your life and think, “Is this it?”, God’s words quietly: “Yes. And God is in it.” In your ordinary days. In your slow growth. In your questions. In your faithfulness and in your failures.

That’s what makes your ordinary life extraordinary – not that you do amazing things, but because Jesus did, and because He is present. He makes you life both extra and ordinary. For it is held held in His Gracious hands.

Conclusion – This week, when you catch yourself doing the thing you find most “ordinary”—maybe it’s washing the dishes, sitting in traffic on Lougheed, or answering that tenth message—stop for five seconds. Remind yourself: Jesus is here. His Word assures me He is present in that very moment. I don’t need something “big” happening to prove that. If that comes my way, I will celebrate. But I want to be faithful in the ordinary things God has put right in front of me.

And when you gather here next Sunday, bring that ordinary week with you. Because this is where Jesus meets you—right in the middle of real life, saying again, “Did you not know? This is my Father’s house. And you belong here too.” Amen.

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[1] On one hand, He did the work no one else can do. He performed miracles, healed people, laughed and cried with them. But those were just about 3 years. Most of the rest of Jesus’ life was lived under the radar, and we know little to nothing about it. Well, there are some Apocryphal gospels, historical documents that purportedly report facts from Jesus’ early years. But they are not God’s Word, so we cannot be sure of their authenticity.

[2] Your ordinary days are not wasted days. Your ordinary days are God-given days, for you to tend to your gifts, responsibilities and challenges. In a sense, they prepare you for the “spotlight” days, those in which great events take place, or big decisions need to be made. But we need the ordinary days. Days to love our neighbor. Days that shape us for moments we don’t yet see coming.