Quiet times

​1-5-22
Dying in peace.
As we approach Epiphany and the end of the Christmas season, we continue to look at those mentioned in the Christmas account by Saint Luke. Today we look at Luke 2:39-40, "And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. And the Child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon Him."
We don't know much about those years when Jesus was growing up in a small town in Galilee. We know about one family trip to Jerusalem, and that's it. Chances are good that the reason we have nothing written about Jesus' early years is that they were probably pretty ordinary. As far as we can tell, Jesus worked in Joseph's carpentry shop, helped Mary around the house, went to Hebrew school, and did all the things an ordinary boy does.
It was a long, quiet time. I think that was good because the whole family needed some quiet time by that point. They needed time to be with each other—live, work, play, worship. They needed the ordinary life that would serve as Jesus' launching pad when He was 30 years old and ready to burst into the incredible years of His public ministry.
Quiet times can be gifts from God, as anyone knows who is not experiencing one—and wishes to be! If that's you, hold on and trust God. But if you are in a quiet time in your life right now, ask the Lord to use it to strengthen you—to help you to mature in your Christian faith and life.
Please pray with me, Dear Father, watch over my life and keep my faith strong in Your Son Jesus, regardless of what comes to me. Amen.