Today a savior is born to us, we say and sing in our churches, and we point beyond our powerlessness to the child who at first was barely noticed in history. Only in time were we able to discern the meaning of this birth, of this human being like us, when it turned out that he stood head and shoulders above our hopelessness and our despair. We do not want to resign ourselves to it and allow our hearts to speak, to express love, to go out and create a new world in spite of everything that speaks against it. We choose sobriety, simplicity of heart because we know that the greatness of our environment is not created by ourselves, but has its origins elsewhere. We receive the simplicity of the poor child Jesus, who, although covered with power, did not exercise it at the cost of human lives, through oppression or violence. It is his humility that convinces people of his good will – albeit only after many attempts to put an end to it prematurely. This is the food for our lives: the divine incomprehensible presence that is strong as death, God’s life force that spreads irresistibly. His name is: Christ the Lord.
Pastor: Ben Frie SJ
Image: Nativity scene in The Krijtberg