This week’s gospel reading focuses on twelve year old Jesus teaching in the temple.

1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26; Psalm 148; Colossians 3:12-17; Luke 2:41-52

An interesting parallel occurs in verse 26 of 1 Samuel and Luke 2:52. The accounts speak of Samuel and Jesus growing up. It’s interesting how both accounts finish with a similar statement about how they grew taller and their favor grew with God and the people. I had never seen that put together like that before.

I like the Colossians passage and it reminds me of a message that Dr. Bud Bence preached at our District Conference when we first moved to the Shenandoah District. Here were his three points from Colossians.

• Let the peace of Christ rule your heart
• Let the word of Christ dwell in you
• What name do you wear? The name of Christ.

The passage finishes off with, “Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of Christ.” That’s good for each of us to remember.