After all the detail of the Christmas story, the Bible says very little about Jesus Christ as a growing child or teenager.

There is just one passage in the second chapter of Luke’s Gospel, which describes how Jesus is somehow left behind by his parents in the temple in Jerusalem. After three days, he is found there, talking with the teachers.

When challenged, he says, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” or, in some versions, “about my Father’s business”.

It is difficult to judge the tone of these words. It is hard to believe that Luke wanted to present Jesus as annoyed with his parents or indeed as surprised at their lack of understanding.

Rather, this seems to be a moment of resolution. It shows Jesus becoming aware of the purpose for which he came into this world, and expressing his commitment to that purpose.

The beginning of a New Year is conventionally a time when we reflect on our lives, and make resolutions in which we commit ourselves to some renewed way of living.

Sometimes, New Year resolutions seem corny and trivial. Yet, used in the right way, a time of reflection on the past year and on our hopes and decisions for the future can be purposeful and liberating.

It allows us to believe that we too, like Jesus Christ, can find ourselves in the place and about the business for which we were born and made.

Alvene and John Costello, Carver Church, Windermere