Month: December 2009

1 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see – I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, ^F9 the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, ^F10 praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” ^F11 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

15 (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, “He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ “) 16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, ^F5 who is close to the Father’s heart, ^F6 who has made him known.

19 This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” ^F7 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord,’ ” as the prophet Isaiah said. 24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, ^F8 nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, 27 the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” 28 This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.”

I’ve been reading a biographical, yet fictional book on Dietrich Bonhoeffer called “Saints and Villains“, by Denise Giardina, for fun over Christmas break. I’ve just scratched the surface, but it seems written very well. It takes a few liberties, to make for a great story, but I don’t think it’s too out of character or unbelievable to have been how many things may have happened. Even the internal dialogue for Bonhoeffer himself she captures in a great way.

In an early chapter, Bonhoeffer is called upon to deliver the Reformation Day sermon before President Hindenburg and other members of government before the Nazi take-over. He had been contemplating the issue of the “Nature of the Church“, and delivered a difficult message to a crowd he knew wanted nothing more than to “digest their breakfast in peace”. No great applause or response outwardly it seemed. Most of the people left as planned to prepare for the meal. Only Elisabeth, the young woman he was “courting”, remained.

But her words of encouragement caught my attention. Simple, short, and yet something we all long to hear. Not just in our occupation, but in moments where our hearts are tapped into, and we pour out our efforts. The excerpt from the book:

“She caught him as he left the church alone. He stopped, bowed his head, and she grabbed his hands. “What you did today,” she said, “was what you were put on earth to do.” (pg. 93)