What We Bring from the Night

9th January '21

Gospel Reading: Matthew 2: 1-12

Dear Community of Christians,

​If we have been awake as citizens, all over the world we have been able to experience many Herod’s. Figures that in everyday life are courteous and obliging, but at the same time secretly considering other, perhaps evil, thoughts.

Are we human beings helplessly at the mercy of such powers which work through human beings?

Finally, the three kings find their way to the child through the advice of Herod and, of course, also through the star. Can this too encourage us? The path to the child, the youngest part of our personality, which we have to develop in the here and now, is not possible without guidance through a path full of stones and obstacles. They come from our inner weaknesses. Herod is present in each of us inwardly. And the obstacles come as well from without. Our development as an independent thinking person can be prevented by external restrictions.

A dream saved the wise men from returning to Herod. Doesn't this show the importance of being much more awake in the future, including what we bring with us from the night and listening to our inner voice? Then the evil of the Herodian powers can only harm us as much as we allow them to do.

Rev. Ute Koenig