Advent thoughts
Perhaps, after all, Advent is a time for self- examination before we open the door. When we stop to consider, the contrast between those early Christians and us is extraordinary. They trembled at the thought of God coming, of the day of the Lord, when Jesus, “Judge eternal, throned in splendor,” would shatter the complacency of all the world. But we take the thought of God coming among us so calmly. It is all the more remarkable when we remember that we so often associate the signs of God in the world with human suffering, the cross on Golgotha. Perhaps we have thought so much of God as love eternal and we feel the warm pleasures of Christmas when he comes gently like a child. We have been shielded from the awful nature of Christmas and no longer feel afraid at the coming near of God Almighty. We have selected from the Christmas story only the pleasant bits, forgetting the awesome nature of an event in which the God of the universe, its Creator and Sustainer, draws near to this little planet, and now speaks to us. The coming of God is not only a message of joy, but also fearful news for anyone who has a conscience.
It is only by facing up to the fearfulness of the event that we can begin to understand the incomparable blessing. God comes into the midst of evil and death, to judge the evil in the world— and in us. And while he judges us, he loves us, he purifies us, he saves us, and he comes to us with gifts of grace and love. He makes us happy as only children know. He is, and always will be now, with us in our sin, in our suffering, and at our death. We are no longer alone. God is with us and we are no longer homeless. A piece of the eternal home is grafted into us. For that reason, we grown- ups can rejoice with all our heart around the Christmas tree— perhaps even more so than the children. We can see already the abundance of God’s gifts. Just remember all the good things he has given us in the past year and, looking at this wondrous tree, feel secure in the promise of the wondrous home— the “safe lodging”— he has prepared for us. Yes, Jesus comes both with law and grace. Listen again, “Behold I stand at the door and knock.” Open the door wide! How often have you thought that to see Jesus would be marvelous, that you would give everything you have to know that he was with you.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, December 2, 1928