FROM THE PASTORS’ DESK

We haven’t gotten out our box of Christmas books yet, but there are a few that we leave

on the shelf because we sometimes need them as we plan for Advent. The other day, I

picked up God is in the Manger: Reflections on Advent and Christmas . In addition to the

devotional that we get from church, there are other devotions that we like to browse

through every year, and this book is my favorite. It features selected writings of Dietrich

Bonhoeffer, and in my mind, no one says the message of Christmas better. Bonhoeffer is

straightforward and simple without being trivial and simplistic. He’s theological without

being academic. He captures the mystery without being esoteric.

He writes: “God becomes human, really human. While we endeavor to grow out of our

humanity, to leave our human nature behind us, God becomes human, and we must

recognize that God wants us also to become human – really human. Whereas we

distinguish between the godly and the godless, the good and the evil, the noble and the

common, God loves real human beings without distinction” (p. 50).

I’m not sure the world has done a good job of being really human this past year. War in

Gaza and Ukraine, political and social rhetoric that demonizes people as the enemy, and

a failure to prioritize the poor, the hungry and the homeless. The time is right for

Christmas, to refocus our efforts on being really human, on being Christ-like.

Advent reminds us that this is God’s world, and no matter how discouraging or

despairing we may be, God intends to enter it, to become really human. “This is about

the birth of a child,” writes Bonhoeffer, “not of the astonishing work of a strongman, not

of the bold discovery of a wise man, not of the pious work of a saint. It really is beyond

all our understanding: the birth of a child shall bring about the great change, shall bring

to all salvation and deliverance” (p. 51).

Advent brings renewed hope, joy, peace, and love into our lives. It reminds us that we

are not abandoned. I’m ready for that, ready for the joyful music, the focus on love, and

the invitation to welcome the Christ-child, and the call to be “really human.”

Advent begins the new church year with the gift from God that transforms us and our

world. Something we can celebrate and at the same time something to challenge us: to

receive the “really human” and to become “really human.”

Peace,

Pastor Jerry