Christmas Sunday for PMC was on December 30. Tim shared about a Mennonite community that strove for simplicity — so as not to burden others with material goods. He contrasted that approach to his memories of complex Christmas celebrations of his youth.
Tim goes on to talk about why simplicity is best practiced as a community endeavor, and the history of this within Mennonite churches.
Simplicity can also be thought of in relation to non-conformity — an attempt to unravel the bonds by which the world has us tied up — in order to be free to live together and for others … for love of neighbor, God, and creation with our whole selves.
Christmas is a celebration of the incarnation — when God became human and the Word became flesh. Tim shares the emphasis of incarnation that Jesus came to be life, and to offer us life — a life embodied that comes from God and joins with God. This is an eternal life into which God invites us all, to break down division, injustice, exploitation, and to bring healing, reconciliation, and wholeness. God comes not to condemn the world, but to make known, live, and join with us in true life, faithfulness, and healing.
Yet this life was threatening … and because he came to show true life, Jesus also knew it was necessary that he be rejected. Jesus first says it is necessary to proclaim God’s kingdom, a new life together, a true freedom and liberation from that which binds us. Because of this, it was necessary for him to die. This was not to pay a penalty, as is often described as primary to the gospel, but because the words and life of a prophet are so threatening to the status quo. This is incarnation that is so radically for the other and for God that it manifests a new life for all people.
This true life of God cannot be conquered. We are grafted in to this to this life and love — always recipients of grace — to this God who elebates the lowly and brings down princes, who feeds the hungry and sends the rich away empty-handed, who brings forth new life.
Hear in more detail here:
Image: by Laura James
Pasadena Mennonite Church 