Tucked away in his short story “In the Capital of the World,” Ernest Hemingway once conjured the tale of a Spanish father who was determined to reconnect with his estranged son. Arriving in Madrid, the older man took out an ad in the personals of the city’s largest paper. It read simply: “Paco, meet me at Hotel Montana, noon Tuesday. All is forgiven. Papa.” When the day came, a squadron of the Guardia Civil had to be called in to disperse the crowd: eight hundred young men, all named Paco, had showed up, each in the sudden and fragile hope of reconciling with their fathers.
It is curious that this sad little anecdote has far outpaced the novel itself in popularity, but it shouldn’t be surprising. There are few aspects of life that unsettle us more, erode our contentment more, than unreconciled conflict and strained relationships. One might wonder why, though. After all, it’s so prevalent, you’d think we’d get used to it. (Perhaps some do, which I find more than a little sad.)
But as Christians, we have the belief that we have the built-in inclination to seek relationships with one another that are characterized by forgiving love. We know this, because the God who is characterized by mutual, in-dwelling, loving relationships, Father, Son and Spirit, has made us to participate in the Divine Relationship. We’re never quite content until we do so.
This is why, as we prepare to retell “the great, glad tidings” of God-with-us at Christmas, we are deliberately moving through Advent in a new way this year, focusing on Bible stories of hurt, disruption, forgiveness, and reconciliation. We do so simply because Christ is our reconciliation, sent by God to restore us to full and saving relationship with our Maker. We also consider the good news that this divine reconciliation makes possible a spirit of peace, generosity of spirit and forgiveness for others in our lives, as well.
This newsletter is of course full of opportunities for worship, celebration and study. Taken together, it’s just too much for one person to do! But I would offer that the sum of them is that one person has done all the work we remember at Christmas. He has stretched out his arms to span the divides between us, and of his new way of living with God, there will be no end. “Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” (2 Cor. 13:11)
Now that is the Christmas Spirit.
Pax Natalis,
Pastor Dave Rochford
