Christmastide: Teenagers.

 The Child grew

   and became strong… (Luke 1:40)

I’m still reeling from the Christmas visit of our six teenage grandchildren (as for the other two: the youngest not yet and the oldest already). How did that happen? How can they be driving around in their own cars? How did they get such minds of their own? How did they become so bright and beautiful and way above average?

I look on them with a mix of trepidation and wonder. Even Job, God’s favorite mortal, objected when his friends brought up the sins of his youth (Jb 13:26). And the Psalmist has the whole congregation singing (Ps 25:7):

Remember not the sins of my youth

    and my rebellious ways;

according to your steadfast love remember me,

   for your goodness’ sake, O Lord!

During Christmastide, we recalled that Jesus was a teenager. And, “during these days of his flesh, Jesus… learned obedience through what he suffered” (Hb 5:7-8). And even though Jesus was “tempted as we are,” he was different in that “he was without sin.” It was his Devine difference that brings us redemption; and, his human sameness that causes him to “sympathies with our weaknesses” (Hb 4:15).

Because of Jesus, my wonder outweighs my trepidation. I pray that our teenage grandchildren will not only “grow strong” like Jesus; but, also, like Jesus, “grow in wisdom and stature, and favor with God and others” (Lk 2:52).