Luke 2:41-52

“Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival.” vss. 41-42

As he studied the various stories about Jesus’ childhood that were available as he began to write his gospel Luke decided to include this one about his trip to Jerusalem with his parents when he was 12 years old. As the only scriptural reference to Jesus’ life before his baptism, it reveals that these trips were an annual part of his family’s life. As such it’s a potent reminder that if parents want their children to grow up in the faith there’s nothing better than habitual, regular worship. When a child is baptized parents promise to worship with them, and some take that commitment seriously. Week after week as their children grow in grace there’s never a question about what is going to happen on Sunday morning. The kids never ask, “What are we doing today?” They already know. The habit is deeply ingrained. Granted, this isn’t always a good thing, if the children don’t see the faith modeled at home, they will know that their parents are hypocrites, and quickly leave when they have a chance. And if the religion they are exposed to is rigid, unloving, and exclusive they will ultimately see the lie of it all. But if love and mercy are at the heart of their Sunday experience, when they are old they will not depart from that faith, even if they stop going to church!

Thought for the Day: What’s it like to worship habitually?