Homily, Finding Jesus
The Second Sunday after Christmas, 2025
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
Plant City, FL
The Rev. Derek M Larson, TSSF
Today’s Lectionary Readings:
In the name of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
A large family is going on a trip during the holidays, and amidst the hustle and bustle of their going and coming, they are accidentally separated from one of the children who then spends three days alone. And yet the child shows miraculous independence, and takes care of himself quite well. His parents, though, are frantic. They fear the worst. And they search for him high and low. Finally, after looking almost everywhere, the parents find their child and are reunited once again.
Now, did I just describe our gospel reading for today, or did I describe the plot of one of my favorite Christmas movies, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York?
There are a lot of similarities between the two! Have you ever noticed that? I wonder if on this last day of Christmas, that is why we hear this gospel story. Probably not.
But even so, as we read this passage, I’m thinking about that movie. And in particular I’m thinking about the end of that movie. In the scene, Kevin’s mom who has been looking for him everywhere, and is just full of exhaustion and anxiety, suddenly realizes where she will find him. “I know where he is!” she says. And she goes directly to the Rockefeller Center where there is this enormous Christmas tree, which she knows are one of Kevin’s favorite things. And as she approaches, there she sees her son. She found him. She just had to look in the right place.
With that image in mind, I wonder if something like that happened to Mary as she looked for her own child in Jerusalem. Three days had gone by and she and Joseph couldn’t find him anywhere. I wonder if, in her own exhaustion and anxiety, she suddenly had this realization. “I know where he is.” And immediately made her way to the temple. And as she approached, there she saw her son. She found him. She just had to look in the right place.
Sometimes, I think like Mary and Joseph, we frantically look for Jesus, but don’t always know the right place to look.
Our world is complicated and tiring. People get sick. Marriages break up. Violence breaks out. There are wars. There are political divisions. There are lies. Cars break down. We struggle with our parenting. We struggle with our homework. Our friends move away. We’re not sure if we should take that job or not. What do I do with my life? Like Jesus’ parents we often find ourselves exhausted and anxious. And we ask ourselves, “Where is Jesus in all of this? Where is God in all of this?”
But if we’re going to find God, we’re going to have to look in the right places.
Mary and Joseph found Jesus in the temple; they found him participating in the community of faith. And if we’re going to find God, I think that’s probably a good place for us to look as well.
Now don’t get me wrong, the presence of God is everywhere. It goes with us wherever we go. In the highs and the lows. In the easy and the hard. In the good and the bad, God is there. God never leaves our side.
But we’re not always so great at noticing it, are we? It takes practice. It takes paying attention. It takes training our eyes and hearts to see it.
And where will we learn to do that, if not here in a community of faith?
That’s where Mary and Joseph found Jesus. In the temple, a house of worship, asking questions, listening to others, wrestling with his own answers. Studying the Scriptures, having theological conversations, participating in prayer. Observing the holy days. That’s where they found Jesus.
What this story tells us, is that if we want to find Jesus in the midst of our chaotic lives, that’s where we’ll find him. In the community of faith. And when we find him there, we’ll find that he goes with us, and we will begin to find him in other places as well.
My hope for St. Peter’s, is that we will be a place where people find Jesus. My hope for St. Peter’s is that we will be a place where people are able to come with their questions and wrestle with their answers, where they’ll gather alongside of others in prayer, and study Scripture. My hope is that St. Peter’s will be a place where people can meet God in the sacraments and find God going home with them. My hope is that St. Peter’s will be that place for you.
If you are looking for Jesus, you are most welcome here. If you are looking for the presence of God, you are most welcome here. This is a faith community for you.
And I know you’re here—you’re already here. But as we enter another year, a year in which we will certainly find ourselves at times asking where God is, I’m wondering what it might look like to deepen our participation in this faith community (or any faith community). I’m wondering what it might look to ask more questions, to listen to more perspectives. I’m wondering what it might look like to study more Scripture. To have more theological conversations. To find ourselves on our knees more in prayer, together. To be more here. So that we might grow, like Jesus in our gospel passage today, in wisdom and in favor with God and one another. What might it look to prioritize our faith lives in this faith community in 2025 so that we might better find the presence of God in our lives?
In the midst of the complexities of this world, St. Peter’s is here for you. We are here for one another. And the more we show up for one another in this place and in the practicing of our faith together, the more we’ll find Jesus when we’re looking for him. Amen.
Questions for Further Reflection
- What role does the faith community (church) have in my life in helping me grow in my awareness of God’s presence?
- What theological questions have I be asking lately at church?
- What role does Bible Study and regular prayer have in my life right now?
- Where is Jesus in my daily life?
Thoughts on Faith 