Eloquent and Radiant

Merry Christmas!

December 22nd, have you had Christmas? Moments when you felt Christmassy.

It may have been a hot drink outside in a cold, but decorated setting. It may have been in your car, listening to a Christmas song. You may have felt, during or after a holiday gathering, that you actually experienced something like Christmas this year.

In faith, it may have been in quiet reflection, or in reading a poem or a passage. It may have been in prayer. Sometimes the contrast enlivens a feeling of Christmas. Perhaps, it was at a busy mall, or at a medical appointment, or even in the hospital.

If God comes to us, then God comes to us as light amidst darkness. “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.”

Considering the matter of Hopeful Christian theology, I offer up another possibility of sparking Christmassy feelings. Maybe even by way of theological reflection. So, consider the quotes below (The language can be dated, but the meaning reaches far).

They are worth some time, these quotes, but if you would rather not, then you could skip to the prayer afterwards. I do that old school pastor thing and sum up the message in the prayer - as if God didn’t already hear it and know it and know much better. I offer it as a prayer of my gratitude for Christmas, for incarnation, for the child, for the life and salvation of God in Jesus Christ. Good news. Great Joy. All People.

Some Christmas theology, from Church Dogmatics Vol IV.3.1, Karl Barth:

“No idea of God, no god invented and made by man and exalted to divinity, is gracious in himself or to humanity. The true and living God is gracious. He discloses and imparts Himself.”

“Because it is the life of grace, it is this eloquent and radiant life.”

“Grace means that God expresses himself before humanity. He causes Himself to be perceived by this one who is not His equal. It means the free revelation of God. This takes place in the life of Jesus Christ.”

“What Jesus Christ lives is God’s self-disclosure and self-impartation. It is both the event and the message at one and the same time: God among us; God with us; and God for us.”

“It means that we ourselves are discovered and disclosed as those who are freed…”

“This is the life of Jesus Christ. It is the life of God who wholly humbles Himself, and of humanity who is wholly exalted by this humbling.”

“It is the life in which God gives Himself up to death and humanity is made conquerer of death. It is the life of reconciliation. It is the life of Jesus Christ.”

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Dear God;
Thank you for Christmas. Thank you that you have not left us alone and thank you that you have revealed your love for all people. Give us eyes to see that the birth of Jesus is truly good news of great joy for all people. I can’t wrap my mind around what it means that you, the One before all things has humbled yourself, that you have entered the everydayness of this world. You have revealed yourself and given yourself so that we could know ourselves and one another - so that we could live in light of your love. Grant that we would know even a sliver of what it means that we are made fully who we are in your love.

We pray for those who are lonely, for those who are afraid, for those who face sorrow and loss and fear. We ask that you would give us eyes to see your love and make us people of peace.
May we, in these days, hear the angel voices declaring your goodness to all the world.

We pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.