To those celebrating, savor the goodness of this season.
To those in pain, may redemption’s hope bring you release.
To those reunited, treasure every embrace.
To those separated, may your hearts be filled.
To those mourning, expect Immanuel to bring you comfort.
To those recovering, allow peace to reshape your perspective.
To those worried, may joy overwhelm every moment.
To those anticipating, this season was made for you.
In all of these fully human experiences, Christmas means we make room for our Savior who understands what it means to be fully human. He came not as a mighty king, but as a poor and helpless baby. Royal robes were replaced by strips of cloth in his quest to liberate mankind from sin and death. Angels announced his arrival and declared to us the good news that deliverance was born.
Bonhoeffer identifies Christmas to be the great turning point of all things. He writes, “The infinite mercy of the almighty God comes to us, descends to us in the form of a child, his Son. That this child is born for us, this son is given to us, that this human child and Son of God belongs to me, that I know him, have him, love him, that I am his and he is mind — on this alone my life now depends. A child has our life in his hands….”[1]
To you, to me, to us all…may the hope and joy of this season with all of its wonders overwhelm your hearts, souls, and minds in the coming days.
Merry Christmas,
[1] Dietrich Bonhoeffer, God is in the Manger – Reflections on Advent and Christmas (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010), p. 56.
