{"id":642,"date":"2012-12-30T11:00:11","date_gmt":"2012-12-30T16:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/sermons\/?p=642"},"modified":"2019-11-19T13:41:54","modified_gmt":"2019-11-19T18:41:54","slug":"living-on-the-threshold","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/sermons\/2012\/12\/30\/living-on-the-threshold\/","title":{"rendered":"Living on the Threshold"},"content":{"rendered":"

Luke 2:41-52<\/a><\/p>\n

Click here to hear the full service.<\/a><\/p>\n

Click here to hear the sermon only.<\/a><\/p>\n

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<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Some of you know that I have practiced, for decades, the spiritual discipline of tree climbing. I have surprised neighbors all across the country as I\u2019ve tumbled out of moving vans and immediately ascended my way to a view of the new heaven and new earth on my new street. \u00a0It\u2019s a matter of seeking new perspective.<\/p>\n

Well, today, December 30th<\/sup>, \u00a0we\u2019ve all \u00a0figuratively climbed up to the top of year, and we\u2019re perched way out on the tree limb of 2012, still holding on to the days of Christmastide, remembering the events of this year\u2026the branch sways a bit under weight of both the joys and agonies of these 12 months. From this lofty vantage we can see ahead to new branch of 2013 just over yonder.\u00a0 With the dropping of a ball and raising of cheer, with the flip of a calendar page we can just about see it.\u00a0 \u00a0It is already, but not yet.<\/p>\n

Or another metaphor, this one requiring not a courage of heights, but a courage of imagination-\u00a0 this is a time when we are called to live on the threshold. Abiding in the liminal places, not quite in the past, not quite in the future. \u00a0Pitching tent with Emmanuel who comes to camp out with us. Pausing with our sister Mary to ponder many things in our hearts.\u00a0 A time to recollect back and wonder forward.<\/p>\n

This is a day for a gem of a story from Luke, told with dual perspectives.\u00a0 This is a day where two generations meet, where youth ministers and campus chaplains engage young adults precisely in the context of their journeys, where parents and children perplex and irritate one another- can you imagine! Where professors and students sit in the Temple and wrestle with texts and traditions.<\/p>\n

Some of us live today with Mary on the Parental threshold of holding on and letting go- today her 12 year old son Jesus stretches out beyond her protection into a world that she already knows\u00a0 is piercingly beautiful but piercingly violent as well.\u00a0 Mary says today, \u201cKids, they grow up so fast.\u00a0 It seems like it was just this past Tuesday that Jesus was born!\u00a0 My baby! And now he\u2019s 12 going on 20.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some of us live today with Jesus on the Emerging Adulthood threshold of \u201chello world, ready or not here I come!\u201d\u00a0 and\u00a0 \u201cyikes, this economy, this multitude of options and yet restrictions, hello Parent\u2019s basement, I\u2019m baaack!\u201d\u00a0 Jesus says today, \u201cGive me some room at the Inn to learn more and become more until I am really ready to launch.\u201d<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s climb into our Lukan story and see the world from one another\u2019s perspectives.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s begin with Mary. \u00a0Revered Mother of Jesus<\/strong>. \u00a0And here in today\u2019s gospel, a very real Mom, one many of us recognize in the mirror or in the family portrait.\u00a0\u00a0 Clueless, panicked, relieved, angry, perplexed, astonished, perseverant.\u00a0 All those experiences of parenthood the owner\u2019s manual never mentions.<\/p>\n

In ancient Roman mythology, \u201cJanus\u201d is the god of beginnings and transitions, the god of gates, doors, and thresholds. Janus is depicted as a god with dual profiles, looking at once to the future and to the past. \u201cJanuary\u201d was named in honor of this threshold – inhabiting<\/span> Janus.\u00a0 Now, I confess that I know this not because I am a classics scholar.\u00a0 I know this because I am a Mom and I have a 529 college savings plan with a firm called \u201cJanus Investments,\u201d and this two-faced image of Janus has been stamped on my statements for the last dozen years.\u00a0 I inhabit a world lately with many conversations including these particular numbers \u2013 a sort of secret code of American parenthood: 529. For many years my husband and I have clink clinked our quarters into the savings plate, fretting over its too slow expansion.<\/p>\n

Our son Andrew is now a High School senior, living on the threshold between HS and College\u2026. Between clicking \u201csubmit\u201d on the Common App and the arrival of satisfactorily large and thick acceptance envelopes in the mail.\u00a0 With Mary I shake my head and remember my son\u2019s first day of Kindergarten, which seemed like last Tuesday.\u00a0\u00a0 On that very first day of the big yellow bus, Andrew was treated to a one on one visit from the school principal. \u00a0A kind man who very gently suggested that biting your neighbor\u2019s forearm on the bus-ride to school was not the best start to an academic career. \u00a0This I cannot help but remember as my 17 year old stands before me and requests the car keys \u2013 himself a Latin scholar, a fine writer,\u00a0 a person of sterling character, now with advanced bus-riding social skills. The forward facing Janus Mom says, \u201cI\u2019m so proud of you!\u201d\u00a0 The backward facing Janus Mom cannot resist to comment, \u201cbut don\u2019t bite anybody.\u201d Already but not yet.<\/p>\n

Mary, today I companion with you as we parent sons so close to stepping into new worlds beyond our doors.\u00a0\u00a0 I like to think of Mary as the biblical Soccer Mom. Now, if this has not occurred to you, bear with me for a moment.\u00a0 Her eldest child is 12, and we know from biblical text that she has at least another 6 children by the time Jesus is an adult. \u00a0Four of Jesus\u2019 brothers are named, and references are made to his unnamed sisters. \u00a0Before I thought about this fact of Mary as parent of 7 or more children- I admit to a more serene image of Mary-\u00a0 quietly pondering, piously robed in blue, sitting beside a well-behaved\u00a0 baby, shining a halo or two in daily housework chores.\u00a0\u00a0 But now I imagine she and Joseph busy with all the demands of running a large household bursting with children\u2019s activities and religious practices and carpentry projects.<\/p>\n

I can understand how Jesus got lost in the caravan that day, on the annual pilgrimage to and from Jerusalem for the Passover festival. The original HOME ALONE screen play. \u00a0It was a 150 mile round trip journey\u2013 3 days there and 3 days back- from the sleepy hill country of Nazareth to the bustling epicenter of the city of Jerusalem, bordering the Negev desert to the south. \u00a02 places so very different from one another.\u00a0 2 members of one family, having such very different experiences of the same event.<\/p>\n

I imagine that Jesus the first born had been declaring his desire for some independence from good ole Imma and Abba for some time- so they\u00a0 relented on their vigilance and said OK, son, you can travel further back in our caravan with extended family.\u00a0 Mary probably couldn\u2019t stop herself and called out parting advice, \u201cDon\u2019t bite anybody!\u201d\u00a0 OK- all you young adults, You totally get to roll your eyes here at your parents for all our awkward comments.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s really more the world\u2019s<\/em> bite that Mary is afraid of.\u00a0 She knows the reality of injustice and state sanctioned violence.\u00a0 She knows the powerlessness of being young, poor, female, occupied, from the no-account back country. She and Joseph and baby Jesus fled Bethlehem 12 years ago, narrowly escaping the murderous arm of Herod who commanded that all male babies under age of 2 be killed.\u00a0 Her family was refugees in Egypt, relying daily on the kindness of strangers, relying daily on the magnificent promises of God.<\/p>\n

Mary knows that in 2012 alone over 153,000 refugees fled her neighboring Syria, running from violence and terror. Mary knows that in our country there have been some 30,000 deaths in 2012 from gun violence.\u00a0 Mary knows that the Slaughter of Innocents is not some ancient biblical tale, but a reality proximate to our lives.\u00a0 Mary weeps for the innocents. Christmas Eve- next door to my recent home town- Webster NY –\u00a0 2 first responders to a house fire, \u00a0were ambushed and killed by gunshot.\u00a0 One a 19 year old, covering for older firefighters so they could be home with their families.\u00a0 Mary weeps for the innocents. Sweet babes at an elementary school in Connecticut, an Oregon shopping mall, a Colorado movie theatre, an off-campus street in Allston. Off campus- our campus. These towns -our towns.\u00a0 These streets – our streets. These children \u2013our \u00a0precious family.\u00a0 Let us wake up and let our collective tears become a tidal wave flow of change \u2013 in hearts and minds and legislation.<\/p>\n

And here\u2019s why I Iove Mary.\u00a0 And here\u2019s how she is a vessel of God\u2019s love.\u00a0 Mary lives on the threshold of the world, seeing all its pain and darkness and she chooses life.\u00a0 She chooses to open the door of her heart, a familiar expression of Howard Thurman.\u00a0 Thurman who prays let the door of my heart be swinging. Secured in place by the axis of identity as a beloved child of God,\u00a0 yet swinging open, welcoming love, attentive to splendor, open to new insight. \u00a0Mary doesn\u2019t hide out in Nazareth, with firmly locked doors to protect her very special child.\u00a0 She lives.\u00a0 She trusts.\u00a0 She reflects. She acts.<\/p>\n

Mary sees the bleakness and chooses to light a candle of blessing rather than curse the darkness.\u00a0 Perhaps Mary is tempted to lock the door and live in fear- to insist that Jesus never leave the protection of Nazareth again.\u00a0 But Mary does NOT place an armed guard at every threshold we hold most dear- she does not armor backpacks \u2013 instead she clothes herself in \u201ccompassion, kindness, humility, patience, and most of all love.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Mary and Joseph discover that Jesus is missing, they abruptly change all plans and rush back to Jerusalem to find their son.\u00a0 They are panicked.\u00a0 They know what can happen out there in the big world.<\/p>\n

After 3 days of searching, they find him! In the Temple of all places!\u00a0 Not in the market squandering shekels on sweet cakes.\u00a0 In the temple! Sitting there with the elders deep in discussion about matters of Torah.\u00a0 Holding his own.\u00a0 Mary\u2019s panic gives way to relief, gives way to anger.\u00a0 She raises her voice and says \u201cSON!\u00a0 How could you do this to me?\u201d\u00a0 And Jesus answers her, \u201cwhy were you searching for me? Didn\u2019t you know I must be in my Father\u2019s house?\u201d\u00a0 Not without a little attitude.\u00a0 In this moment, Mary really doesn\u2019t understand her son.\u00a0 \u00a0But she pauses.\u00a0 She doesn\u2019t react, she reflects.\u00a0 She\u2019s good at pondering life\u2019s mysteries, even when they come in the package of a misbehaving child.<\/p>\n

Jesus leaves with his parents, and back home in Nazareth they give him some remedial lessons in the commandments.\u00a0 Like, hey Jesus, remember # 5 of the top 10?\u00a0 \u201cHonor thy father and mother.\u201d\u00a0 Mary continues her stewardship of the home, observing the beauty of each Sabbath eve and day, encouraging her children in the living of the law, trusting the words of the angelic visitor so long ago \u201cFEAR NOT.\u201d\u00a0 She does her best. \u00a0And her son grows in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.<\/p>\n

But we have climbed our tree today to gaze out in two perspectives.\u00a0 Jesus <\/strong>also lives in the threshold of emerging adulthood today, almost there but not quite yet. \u00a0Jesus of Nazareth, Son of God, Wonderful Counselor, Light of Lights, Hope of the Ages.\u00a0 Perhaps we\u2019re better versed in the full divinity<\/em> of Jesus Christ than in his full humanity<\/em>. But here in today\u2019s treasure of a story we see a young adult some of us recognize in the mirror or in the family portrait – eager, idealistic, curious, confident, hopeful, and determined.<\/p>\n

Now, we know most definitively that Jesus is 12 here.\u00a0 What the text does not say, and we can imagine, is that he is reaching the age of majority, or of recognition as an adult in his religious circle.\u00a0 B\u2019nai mitzvah- the coming of age of Jewish boys at 13 and girls at 12 is not yet an established practice in first century Judaism.\u00a0 I suspect Jesus is on the threshold of what we call today becoming a bar mitzvah, a son of the commandments, one with personal accountability for observing the Law.\u00a0 A bar or bat mitzvah is full of questions and obligated to study biblical passages in depth.\u00a0 So, just where else would Jesus be, but at the steps of the Temple, taking the rare opportunity to dialogue with and learn from the greatest scholars of his day.\u00a0 Indeed, when reproached by his mother, \u201chow could you do this to me?,\u201d\u00a0 he is likewise astonished- do my parents understand nothing about me?\u00a0 How is this not obvious?<\/p>\n

In our era, a new term has surfaced for coming of age, called \u201cEmerging Adulthood.\u201d\u00a0 It\u2019s generally associated with the ages between 18-29, and is understood not as a generational characteristic particular to the Millennials, but as a new life stage.\u00a0 Nearby in Worcester MA our colleagues at Clark University are spearheading this research.\u00a0 Dr. Jeffrey Jenson Arnett and his grad assistant Joseph Schwab have just released their poll on American Emerging Adults, and find that these folks are overall: Thriving, Struggling, and Hopeful. \u00a0\u00a0Sounds a bit like our own emerging Jesus to me.<\/p>\n

\u201cLife is not easy for emerging adults,\u201d state the researchers.\u00a0 We know this. Our own WBUR ran a series in December called Gen Stuck.\u00a0 Ouch. I learned that 30% of young adults are boomeranging back home to the not-so-empty nest, the highest percentage since the 1950s.\u00a0 Merry Christmas, young adults, here\u2019s a present called Fiscal Cliff.\u00a0 Happy New Year!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I quote from the Clark report, \u201cEmerging adults have an unemployment\u00a0 rate that is consistently double the overall rate.\u00a0 Those who have a job usually make very little money for most of their twenties.\u00a0 Nearly all aspire to a college degree, but fewer than 1\/3 have attained one by ages 25-29. Most move away from the comfort and support of the family home to take on the formidable task of finding a place in the world.\u00a0 It\u2019s not surprising, given these circumstances, that so many of them say they often feel stressed, anxious, or depressed. \u201c<\/p>\n

Hold on, though, recall that 12 year old energy, confidence, and curiosity of Jesus.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat may be more surprising is that, despite the challenges of the emerging adult life stage, most of them remain hopeful that their lives will ultimately work out well.\u00a0 Nearly 90% agree that they are confident that they eventually \u00a0will get what they want out of life:\u00a0 almost as many agree that \u201cAt this time of my\u00a0 life, it still seems like anything is possible.\u201d\u00a0 And, despite frequent claims that they face a diminished future and will be the first generation in American history to do worse economically than their parents, more than 3\/4s agree that \u201cI believe, overall, my life will be better than my parent\u2019s lives have been.\u201d \u00a0End quote.<\/p>\n

Jesus, God with skin on, knows this in-between time.\u00a0 He stands in the threshold right there. And he is present in the silent waiting years.\u00a0 From ages 12-30 we know nothing about Jesus\u2019\u00a0 life.\u00a0 We can imagine he is home preparing, living faithfully, and getting ready to launch into public ministry \u2013 finally at the age of 30.<\/p>\n

Young adults- if your Baby Boomer or Gen X parents get a little impatient with your travelling through this life stage, say, \u201chey I\u2019m\u00a0 Emerging right on target with Jesus.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jesus had a hunger for discovery.\u00a0 So do the young adults I know and love.<\/p>\n

3 dozen Emerging Adults- also known as \u201cStudents\u201d gathered at Marsh Chapel\u00a0 just before finals for a \u201cReading Retreat\u201d \u2013 a day set apart for study and reflection.\u00a0 We focused our spiritual practices on one of the masters from this holy Temple\u2013 Howard Thurman- absorbed his words and wisdom.\u00a0 Each participant went around room declaring the study intent for the day- and it was fascinating to hear the variety of subjects embraced by 6 of the schools of our university.\u00a0 I am making my way through a 500 page tome on international relations and the CIA,\u00a0 I am immersed in my reams of Hebrew Bible class notes for final exam, I am writing a paper about cross-cultural pedagogical implication, I am simulating human voice through a prototype robot I am making, and so on and so on.\u00a0 Fascinating!<\/p>\n

They remind me each day to be a\u00a0 life-long learner. To appreciate excellence all around.<\/p>\n

For instance, our ushers, right here at Marsh Chapel are superb in hospitality.\u00a0 Each Sunday they are greeting at our doors with smiles and welcoming information for first timers.\u00a0 Now, I come up the stairs from the lower level\u00a0 – not in our ushers\u2019 line of duty.\u00a0 So most weeks I go out the front door, so I can turn right around and come back in. And I say to the usher, I want my greeting!\u00a0 I want my smile and handshake or hug.\u00a0 I want to start my day by receiving the excellence of your mission.\u00a0 And Charles, 7 year old Charles who is head usher of the balcony.\u00a0 Cannot have a Sunday without a Charles smile and high five.<\/p>\n

Friends, this day we look back, we look forward, and we look from many perspectives.\u00a0 We go out of our way to cross thresholds into places of joy and love.\u00a0 Let us go into the New Year, with hearts as swinging doors \u2013opening to the comfort of God\u2019s grace, moving out to the needs of the world.<\/p>\n

Amen.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

~ The Rev. Dr. Robin Olson<\/em><\/p>\n

See: Clark University Poll of Emerging Adults, December 2012: http:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/clarkpoll\/<\/a><\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Luke 2:41-52 Click here to hear the full service. Click here to hear the sermon only. Some of you know that I have practiced, for decades, the spiritual discipline of tree climbing. I have surprised neighbors all across the country as I\u2019ve tumbled out of moving vans and immediately ascended my way to a view […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2679,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[30],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/642"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2679"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=642"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/642\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2490,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/642\/revisions\/2490"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=642"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=642"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=642"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}