St. John's Smiths Falls, Rev. Brian A. Burrows.
Text: Luke 2:49, "Wist ye not (Don't you know) that I must be about my Father's business?"
Theme: Doing the Lord's business!
Intro:- The twelve year old Jesus puts into a nut shell, the task of the Church in today's world. This older translation of verse 49, spells out the implication of Jesus being in his Father's house. What is the business of the Church? What are we called to do when we come together to worship God in church?
When Jesus later on began his ministry to his own people, he realized the enormity of the task. People, lots of people needed healing. It was a daunting task for Jesus and still is for us when we think of the sick in Emergency wards and so on.
- Compassion!
Jesus responded first of all with compassion to the needs of the people of his day. Our task then, for our world is also to show compassion to the many people suffering in our town and in our world. As Jesus said, there is a great need for others to help the sick and the vulnerable people of our world.
- Caring!
Jesus noted that this vast number of sick people needed looking after. He uses the analogy of the shepherd looking after sheep. The business of the Church also should be looking after the needs of people, young, old and in between. Down the ages, Christians have attempted to care for people. Everyone, the young, teenagers, the middle aged and the elderly need to feel that someone, somewhere cares for them. This is the business of the church today.
This can be done in small and personal ways and also by the church as an institution. Many people, surely are aware of this but feel the task is too great and the volunteers too few!
- Companionship!
At this stage of Jesus' adult ministry he began recruiting his disciples as helpers. It is, I believe, also the task of the Church to form fellowships, groups and societies, etc., to share the work of Christ's ministry in today's world. Small groups, small fellowships can be stimulated to do the work of the Gospel – to contribute to the business of the Church. Together, with the help of the Holy Spirit the Father's business can be carried on in the future.
Conc:-
After forty years of ministry, I told the Diocese of Niagara at my retirement my faith was stimulated and strengthened by fellowship – Sunday School teachers and fellow conscripts in the British Army. Together Christians can do great things for God. Let us then continue to show compassion to others, to care for the needy and work together as companions of the Way of Jesus Christ.
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