229 – Imperfect – Intention on the Spiritual Journey

What do you want for Christmas?

How many times lately have you been asked that question? Or, how many times have you asked that question of family, friends and co-workers?  What answers do you hear?

Recently these words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer came to my attention,

The celebration of Advent is possible only to those who are troubled in soul, who know themselves to be poor and imperfect, and who look forward to something greater to come.

So, if I ask what do you want for Advent, would you echo Bonhoeffer’s sentiment that you want to know yourself as troubled, poor and imperfect?  Want to know something is missing and something greater is to come?

It does not seem to me that our prevailing culture encourages such sentiment.  But does Advent encourage us to walk that path?  Does the Gospel encourage us to ask those questions of ourselves?

Bonhoeffer’s words bother me.  But also push me to acknowledge where I am, to seek what draws me on, and find a way to follow that path.

Where do his words find you?

Charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

Source of quotation: Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Christmas Sermons (and found at http://www.plough.com/en/daily-dig/even/december/daily-dig-for-december-2 )


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