December 11, 2025
God, the baby of Bethlehem, is among the rubble of Gaza.Christians of Gaza have decorated a church that is partially destroyed in Gaza City. A sign of hope for them, and the world. How do the people remain hopeful with all the destruction and violence done to them for over two years ? Vietnam was bombed for nine years constantly. They lived in hope that one day it would end. It did, and the United States left in shame in 1975.
What will bring you hope this Advent season before the baby arrives in Bethlehem. I have noticed over many years that our personal health is one of the things that we pray about. I see this especially here during sharing time in our many worship services. In the Mennonite Church, we did not have this as part of the worship until relatively recently. We pray for healing of all diseases, but sometimes I hear that we want our loved ones to be released from their pain. When do we cross over with our prayers, from miracles to hoping death will come quickly ? Does our faith change when this happens ? Do we understand God differently ? Does hope change ?
2025 was the 500th anniversary of the beginning of Anabaptism. What have we learned about living in hope for the violence done to our ancestors ? As they went to their deaths, they proclaimed faith in God. They had a different vision or interpretation than their persecutors, also Christians.
When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” Matthew 2:13
Mary and Joseph had to live in hope, as they became refugees immediately after the birth of the babe.
Praying for the peace of the baby to infect the whole world. AMEN
Fred
black and white shadows
crush humanity’s freedom
am I complicit ? MPL 2025
Ponder Anew 