Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! Have a very Happy New Year!

HAPPY NEW YOU – Jesus amazing scholars and so can you! (thought that was catch rhyme from Luke 2)

In this time of reflection I have NOT taken time nor reflected much – (actually daily I marvel at the rapid pace of life and just keep moving in it) – And the end of the year snuck in on me and the last day of the year I think more in practical terms like “did I use up all the expiring coupons?” – “what tax implications are there?” – and “Thank God I renew my vacation allotment for work!”…

But with the reflection of the old year and New Year upon us – it is also “what did I DO this past year?” and what is it that I KNEW this past year? (what do I now KNOW?) – a year is a long time to reflect on (and I am only half way thru compiling my year in review photo collection to put with my Christmas cards which I haven’t written yet but will!)

And the nice thing (among the amazing things) that we get from scripture is that it renews – it never gets old – it overlaps last and this years – it teaches even the most knowledgeable – and it inspires – simple and sophisticated alike…  So – to wrap up this 2025, our scripture lesson in Luke 2 is in that Jesus was learning too – and He became flesh and He was a baby NEW – so now He is growing too! 

Grown enough to be old enough to KNOW what He was to focus on – His Father’s business – Jesus said to His Earth Parents after 3 days searching in Jerusalem: “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”

Jesus wanted to learn and learn and discuss and converse and yes surely He wanted to educate without boasting – He fulfilled prophecy by coming to earth – surely every time He went to the temple He amazed the scholars – just by being Himself….

How about us? Can we amaze scholars? or Can we amaze non-scholars? Does that matter? NO!!! What matters most is that we KNOW we are children of God and accept the “NEW YOU” in the new year. We can wish each other Happy New Year and we can reflect on ourselves and others and know the HAPPY NEW YOU.

We can learn and learn and learn – and absorb scripture’s lessons and discuss intellectually how amazing it is that all of us can learn and WITH the Lord we can absorb these life lessons: just take it one day at a time – just let the Lord lead – just BE.

JUST BE

and JUST BE THE NEW YOU everyday and every year…

Happy New Year and Happy New You!

AMEN

—

Luke 2:41-50 NKJV

The Boy Jesus Amazes the Scholars
His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. 

Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”

And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.