Luke 2:52 – And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years and in divine and human favour. (NRSV)
1 Samuel 2:26 – Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favour with the Lord and with the people. (NRSV)
Our gospel passage echoes the same words as the passage in Samuel: "And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favour."
God is the one who prepares for the future. From the beginning of time, God has reached out for our restoration and salvation. From the earliest of times, God held out the hope and promise that a Saviour would restore the divine/human relation and create a new covenant of faith, grace and trust which would never pass away.
As we embrace the dawning new year, the time comes for positive, affirmative action to reach out and claim the future God has for us.
Colossians 3:17 – And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the father through him. (NRSV)
Prayer: God of yesterday, today and all future days to come, we prepare for the future by affirming the past and by looking with eyes of faith on all the tomorrows yet to dawn. Take us into the future holding the hand of the man from Galilee. Amen.
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