Dear Sisters and Brothers,

The EMS Secretariat sends you their warmest Christmas greetings, wishing you a Christmas full of blessings and a peaceful New Year.

Pfarrer Dr. Dieter Heidtmann
Generalsekretär

Peace on Earth and peace in our hearts!

Christmas is the festival of love and peace. The child in the manger passes on the message of God’s eternal love his whole life through. God desires peace for all of creation.

If God desires peace for all of creation, then why is there so little peace in the world? Isn’t 2000 years enough time to create peace and build a civilisation of love? Apparently, we humans prefer to argue about every little thing. We waste our time fighting for ideas and ideals. We trust in a rational logic that ultimately only leads to discord and division. When will we find the courage to put an end to all this arguing and build something together for the benefit of all? We should approach life from the heart, not just from the mind. The logic of the heart is also rational, but it is totally different from the logic of the mind. The heart and mind should stand side by side and start communicating with each other. Rationally, but with sensitivity and gentleness. 

If God only acted according to rational standards, He would probably have given up on humanity long ago.

A proverb from Minangkabau (Indonesia) puts it this way: “When we have children, we lose half of our minds. And when we have grandchildren, we lose the other half as well!” The love grandparents have for their grandchildren is inexplicable, but it is understandable. The aim is simply to love and look after their grandchildren. Love is not rational.

At Christmastime, God’s love for His creation becomes visible. If God only acted according to rational standards, He would probably have given up on humanity long ago. But God's love is as incomprehensible as it is unshakeable. Viewed from this angle, Christmas conveys a message that makes no rational sense at all, yet it is liberating. Christmas shows the side of life that reaches through to the Creator’s heart. 

Christmas reminds us that we should bring our hearts and compassion into our relationships with others. Instead of debating, let’s spend our time building a world that brings peace and reconciliation. Let’s focus our own hearts to make the peace that all people dream of a reality. Peace on Earth and peace in our hearts. 

Reverend Dr. Djoko Wibowo 
Head of Unit Indonesia