Sermon: Christmas Dawn

Coming into the New

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. 

Rev. Ute Koenig