Gospel Reading: Matthew 2:1-15

Dear Community of Christians,

It was the star that guided the three Kings on their path. The star was the sign for the kings to find the right way towards their destiny. We, the people of our time, think of this guiding star as a historical occurrence. We have to go on our way alone, without the guiding star. 

Actually, we are guided by a star, our own light filled star, yet, it doesn’t brightly shine as an outer visible light. If we look on the path of our destiny, we can see how many times we were perfectly guided. Sometimes it was a difficult path, and sometimes it is just the right one. Only in retrospect we recognize its guidance. Without this directing impulse of the star, we would never fulfill the task of our destiny. These tasks we have sought out as heavenly guides before our earthly life, and decided to follow. We have grasped this decision pre-natally. 

If we actually think about our life situation, we must realize how many times, we are held back from meeting our destiny: from relevant people and important occurrences. Then we can clearly see, it is not the light of our guiding star that hinders us from fulfilling our destiny, these are real, other forces who want to guide us down another path, towards the forces that Herod was driven by. These forces which have driven him to become the murderer of many innocent souls, are still not overcome.

Today, they are once again allowed to have a stronger effect, to draw us away from heavenly light.  And that now remains the question, do we let this happen? Do we let ourselves be led away by these forces that seek to overwhelm us? Or can we call upon all the forces at our disposal, and turn our gaze upwards? Only from there can the starlight guide us along the path of destiny we have chosen.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 2: 1-15

Dear Community of Christians,

The festival of Epiphany has high importance, especially for the German city of Cologne. There is an old legend: After the Three Kings became bishops and later died, their bones were brought to Cologne. Some time after a Danish king came to Cologne and brought with him three crowns for the three kings. When he came back home, he had a dream. The three kings appeared to him in the dream and handed him 3 cups, the first of the cups contained gold, the second myrrh and the third contained frankincense.

​When the Danish king awoke, the Three Magi had disappeared, but the three cups had remained for him. Rudolf Steiner gives us an insight into this legend.  The dream was assistance for the Danish King to rise up into the spiritual world.  And thus, the symbolic substance of gold, frankincense and myrrh became known to him. We can also say that he could now recognize the symbolic power of the gifts. He could read the meaning of the images. These offerings are meant: Gold - self-knowledge, or we can even say Self-improvement; Then frankincense - self-piety, or even self-development; Myrrh – devotion, or also the preservation of the eternal in the self. 

If we visualize these qualities of the soul, then perhaps we can appreciate what a long way we have to go to become a true human being.  The 3 kings themselves were also on this path, yet they brought their offerings to the - one whom they foresaw would live these ‘gifts’ one day as an eternal example for mankind.

Gospel Reading: Luke 2:25-35

Dear Community of Christians,

Simeon the person who is entirely dedicated to the Good and the Prophetess Hannah were then like archetypes of Godparents for the Jesus child. When the child was brought to the temple, and were presented for the first time to the public, they were the representatives for mankind to reveal that he will be the ruler of “His” kingdom.

Actually, every child born into the world is king in its own little kingdom: The parents, the brothers and sisters, the relatives, they all form his small kingdom. Then the little space gradually expands with its friends, and later with its tasks and with its enemies. Besides its parents who are responsible for the physical well-being, it needs also the representatives of mankind, in form of two Godparents. If Godparents take the task seriously, then there is real responsibility involved. In the Christian Community the Godparents are called “guardian”, it is a matter of inner disposition to alertness of spiritually, to accompany the child, the youth, perhaps even the adult, to support them in their tasks for their kingdom.                                                                                                                                                                                                         
If we now consider that we all have the mission on earth, to bring our higher self, not our egoistic part, to birth, then we sense that is, and will be a very difficult occurrence. Can we once ask, are there also two beings that protect and accompany the process of becoming a true King in our own adult kingdom? Not an easy question to answer. But the two qualities of a healthy soul and a clear consciousness will be the best requirements we can think of. In this sense, we can feel responsible as our own guardian. 

Dear Community of Christians,
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The poet Mörike once completed a poem for the New Year, calling out a hearty, holy welcome to the New Year. He describes the coming as something very tender, delicate, like a little angel which very carefully touches the earth.

Despite the old year, laden with heavy weights, one can still try to follow this image, of the tender, unencumbered beginning of a New Year. But in our individual souls, perhaps this lightness is not so readily found.  In our individual souls there are future desires and hopes weaving and swaying. What can we do to give more space for these wishes and hopes, so that the individual angels can grant us exactly what is right, what is necessary this year?

Our consciousness today is shaped in such a way that we are always exposed to the danger of no longer perceiving the work of the angels. With a childish attitude we could say: “I am grown up.” Certainly, we have to be independent and self-reliant, but this is this too much, we are too self-assured. This often makes the work of the angels difficult and then they have to do more to make us aware of where we are falling short. This is what we can bring to this New Year: to give space to our angel for their work.

To the New Year

by Eduard Mörike 

So quietly, lowly
Like angels that slowly
Aurorally wingèd
Set foot on the earth,
Thus morning drew nearer.
Welcome godfearing
With joy its appearing!
Its holy appearing,
Heart, welcome with mirth!
                           
In Him all beginning
Who reigns, ever spinning,
The moons', suns' and planets'
Celestial parade.
You, Father, you counsel!
Be guide and defense!
Lord, into Thy hands
Beginning and end,
The whole world be laid.

German (Deutsch) to English translation © 2004 by Bertram Kottmann

Gospel Reading: John 21:15-25 

Dear Community of Christians,

Once a year, during the Holy Nights the name of the 12 Hierarchies are invoked in the Act of Consecration of Man. Their deeds permeate our entire physical-spiritual reality all the time, but in the 12 Holy Nights, as in a magnifying glass, their significance for the whole year is brought to light, and into sharp focus. Is it gratitude? Is it the request for help? Is it reverence for these great beings that moves us when we hear their mighty names? For most of us, we are rarely aware of their active forces in life.

​Their work is of a spiritual nature and yet They physically move our world. If we lose them from our consciousness, we impoverish ourselves, and also make the world poorer. A lot is at stake if we are not aware of their work. Does our difficult world situation also have to do with the fact that we show no or very little interest in the work of the hierarchies? 

Now, in the enclosed and introspective time of the Holy Nights, when their beings are once again present in our consciousness, we can show them our gratitude, our veneration for their work. Our relationship with the hierarchies may then become more intimate and renewed during the upcoming month of the year. 

Dear Community of Christians,

​At the end of his message, John testifies that what he has described in his Gospel is Truth. Why is it so important to John that every word he reports is true?

The resurrection event, that a God overcomes death, was and is of such magnitude that its truthfulness had to be affirmed and emphasized. The rejuvenating creative power originating from the deed of Golgotha that now penetrates the world. That is the unconditional truth for the Gospel writer John.

From now on, it is the defining question in life, to what extent are we open-hearted in recognizing what is reported is also Truth for us?

Heaven, the spiritual world is sometimes very close to us, for example you can experience a friend or a family member show their inmost being shortly before death. It is an intimate and personal experience, and having encountered it, is clearly true and the event is recognized later in light of physical death.

The fact that spiritual forces constantly permeate the earth is a result of the divine creation, and Christs subsequent sacrifice for the earths renewal, which we have to develop a new awareness for. It is an individual experience, which a materialistically minded science cannot regard as real.

When John tells us about the "Seven I Am Words of Christ", we have the opportunity, using today's consciousness, to explore the truth in our daily lives in its various aspects. Namely to recognize that the closeness of heaven will enhance our ability to perceive a Truth beyond earthly senses. If the words 'I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life' become our daily companion, then we will experience the truth of the guidance of our destiny. This helps us to face the difficulties and obstacles through the accompanying help of Christ.`

Gospel Reading: Luke 2: 1-20

Dear Community of Christians,

Turning ourselves around, or turning a page, all that is an external movement is a process that we take for granted. We turn around to go in another direction. We turn when we are called. We turn the page in a book to find out further and new content. And for world history we call the mystery of Golgotha the turning point of time.

At this time, the outwardly inconspicuous birth of the divine Child took place in a completely hidden part of the world. The mystery of this decisive time holds the possibility of change. It calls humanity to recognize the new. And still today we are called to recognize this newness and to take it into our souls as individuals.  

We know how difficult a process of letting go of the old can be; habits, thoughts and feelings. For taking hold of the new sometimes means to take a step, a leap into a different, unknown realm. And for this step we need our will forces and true courage.

The new thing taken up does not always bring personal benefit. Sometimes this step needs to be done for a larger circle of people. The new impulse that has to be seized is perhaps connected with a sacrifice. Precisely this indicates to us that it is a necessary step, now and for the future. 

​Dear Community of Christians,

From legends we know when Joseph was betrothed to the Virgin Mary, he was already an old man. Alongside this, he represents ancient humanity. We can have the feeling mankind was ancient, was settled, and had found his home on earth. 

The human senses are sharpened through earthly occurrences. However, for events that lie beyond physical existence, the perception is lacking. 

Josephs attitude towards something new and unexpected lay in his inability to perceive and acknowledge it. Only when his physical senses were no longer an obstacle during sleep, he was able to receive the message from the spiritual world in a dream. 

We can easily recognize ourselves as a humanity that has deepened our comfort in the materialistic world. A message or occurrence that comes from another, non-earthly world, cannot be recognized with our earthly senses. It is very difficult to see and accept. For man and the world, refreshing rejuvenating forces from a world of creative power, can only be grasped and brought into the world by each individual human soul.   
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After Joseph awoke, he did not ignore the angel's message anymore, but followed its clear task. Certainly today, our ancient humanity, should know that the angels are waiting with their messages for us to receive and grasp it. They want bring those rejuvenating forces for further development into humanity.

 
Dear Community of Christians,

The mysteries of Christianity are infinitely deep. The real mystery is the becoming of the human being. The image of becoming lives in the knowing of God.  The divinity works as a sculptor, and it is a very long process. The sculpture-God uses for this purpose the skills of love and law.

In the paradise, the first commandment was given: “it was not allowed for man to eat from the tree of life”. This necessity had the purpose of educating a still childlike humanity. And we know, if we do not establish rules for children, they would enter their adult life without orientation in nature and in society.

Once mankind was in the state of childhood during the Exodus from Egypt, which lasted 40 years. People became impatient, ungrateful and rebelled against God. Then the LORD said to Moses, “make a serpent of brass, and set it up on a high pole. Whoever is bitten from the serpent and then looks at it, shall live.” Moses made a bronze serpent and set it up on a pole. And if the serpent bit any person, and if they looked upon the brazen serpent with humility, they lived." These words of the Old Testament can only be understood if one considers that people obeyed the laws out of fear, or hope of reward. Also today, when we follow outer laws, we do so because we don’t want to be punished. Although so many laws keep us at bay, today science does not seem to be interested in the law of God, of not eating from the tree of life in their research. The laws of life are untouchable so long as we do not recognize the actual task, the becoming.

Today many laws that govern our external life teach us to accept norms in order to live together as human beings, except for those laws that do not serve the community but are established arbitrarily.

Actually, we are still under the rod of Moses, but we have to be clearly aware that through the outer law, we do not find access to our higher human nature. To the quality of becoming.

It is Christ’s deed that has brought the new law to earth. The free deed of love by Christ which we inherited, calls us to consciously awaken the inner hidden forces, the forces of becoming. Certainly, the external laws were and are a model for the internal law. The sculptor God hands us the chisel for our future development. And now we are obliged to learn and follow the inner law, that it becomes the main impulse in life. The inner law of life enables us to act out of the strength of truth and love. Then we will not only understand the mystery of Christianity, but we will also be able to realize it for the future.   

Gospel Reading: Phillipe 4: 4-9

Dear Community of Christians,

We all know the great, expectant joy when we wait for the visit of a loved one. 

Adventus domini, Advent – is the expectation of the coming of the Lord. We celebrate this time of Advent weeks before Christmas in this spiritual mood of anticipation. In our time, the question may be asked, do we really feel this joyful expectation? 

I think, what we can perhaps feel is this expectation of the Lord, but it is more than our loving look at the little child in the stable. Each of us has an image in our soul of what “Lord” means and we come quickly to the answer: “God”, but it is not the only interpretation, it contains also: “Man”. Can we also say, God in Man? First, we must clarify our thoughts, what kind of image of God and of man do we carry in our selves? For example, is the image of man only a bringing together of a physical-material mass - or can we come to an image of man that becomes the temple for divinity? The human being’s fulfillment lies in the future, but the goal is rooted and contained in us all.  

It seems to be ever more obvious that today's science sees man as an apparatus in need of repair, a science which is geared towards the machine repair workshop of modern medicine. This modern medicine of the machine is greased by corporate interests and the political powers funded by them. If we leave science to follow this train of thought, then the further development, or even the continued existence of mankind stands at the abyss of nothing.  
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What concrete help is available to us during the festive periods of Advent and Christmas? We can turn to the grandiose masterpiece of the Messiah that Georg Fredric Handel gave us containing the knowledge "I know that my redeemer lives". And He wants to live in us as His temple. We can always make this newly alive in these weeks of our festive season.