Christmas is four weeks from today, so it is safe to say we are in the season of Advent.
My faith tradition did not place a big emphasis on the Christian calendar, with the exception of Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and of course Christmas Day. But there is great depth, even warmth, when we allow the seasons to enter our daily thinking.
This year I am going to read daily from the book God is in the Manger by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. It is a collection of his letters from prison and a few of his sermons. If you are unfamiliar with Bonhoeffer, who was martyred by the Nazis, then you’ll find these simple daily readings an approachable introduction to his work.
Even on day one my yellow highlighter is out and active with quotes like this:
“The Advent season is a season of waiting, but our whole life is an Advent season, that is, a season of waiting for the last Advent, for the time when there will be a new heaven and a new earth.”
If time permits I’ll share a few more quotes from the book. And join along if you want — I’d love to hear what you think of the daily readings.
