Sprachlos, traurig, schockiert...

Es gäbe eigentlich viel Kleines und Oberflächliches zu erzählen. Jammern könnte ich über meine Dummheit mich nicht gegen die Grippe impfen zu lassen. Oder ich könnte Ihnen genau beschreiben, wie lustig Gottesdienstleiten mit 39*C Fieber so ist. Oder über den fehlenden Schnee könnte man sich auslassen. Oder die viele Arbeit. Den Kleinen Mann, der in letzter Zeit recht anstrengend ist. Oder...Oder...Oder...

Aber eigentlich habe ich nach Freitag gar nichts zu sagen. Die Frage nach dem Warum ist sinnlos. Der Ruf nach Waffenkontrollgesetzen auch. Und so sehen wir betroffen auf eine Tragödie, die verhinderbar gewesen wäre, gäbe es hierzulande Gesetzte, die den Erwerb und Besitz von Waffen regulierten.

Am Ende bleibt Sprachlosigkeit, Trauer und Hilflosigkeit. Und der kleine Wunsch, dass die Uni in Schweden dem Langen Mann doch einmal eine Stelle anbietet.

Eigentlich poste ich hier ja keine meiner Predigten (mal abgesehen davon, dass ich die meisten meiner Predigten frei halte und deshalb gar nicht posten könnte), denn dies ist ja nicht das Blog meiner Gemeinde. Aber alles, was ich jemals sagen könnte, zu dem was am Freitag an der Sandy Hook Grundschule passiert ist, sage ich in dieser Predigt. Und deshalb, dieses Mal eben doch...

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What does one say on a day like this? What does one say after what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary School? I have to admit: I am not sure. Together with you I am speechless, shocked, saddened and confused.

I don’t know what to say but I have a pretty good idea what not to say:

“God had a reason for this to happen.” No. no, no! This had nothing to do with God. This is a product of our human brokenness. God did not make this happen. Who could trust a God who promises to love us and then does something like this? No, this was not God’s work but ours.
“God needed some more angels in heaven.” Again, no no no! God does not kill our loved ones because God wants to live with them closely someplace else. A real human being killed the victims and God mourns with us over our losses.
God mourns with the parents and siblings of the victims. God feels their pain and never, ever leaves them alone. God has not left us. God was with every child, every grown up, every victim of this tragedy. God was with all, even with the perpetrator. Because God promises to always be with all of us.

Last week we came together after our Christmas Dinner and we light candles as a reminder that God is the Light of the World and that no darkness can ever overcome it. And we saw the sanctuary getting lighter and lighter with each candle.

The prophet Isaiah promises: The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.

We are living in dark times right now and we yearn for God’s light to come and heal this world.
We heard the angel telling the shepherds of the birth of the Savior. A Savior who will not fight but will bring Peace. God’s Peace. More than ever, we need to hear this good news too.

We feel lost - but the angel promises: God is coming. God will lead you. God is with you.

We feel hurt, shocked, pained - but the angel promises: God is with you. God’s peace is all around you. God will heal all pains and wounds.

We feel sad, angry, insecure - but the angel promises: Unto you a Savior has been born. God comes into your life as a human being to live with you, walk with you and to support you.

Today we are the shepherds on the fields and we hear God’s promises. And even though on dark days like this it seems hard to trust and believe in those promises, they never stop to be real.

We can see God’s promises coming to live in all the people who helped, cried, and prayed over the last few days.
We can see God’s promises coming to live in a little boy who lead out his fellow students into safety.
We can see God’s promises coming to live here in our midst, this morning.
We can see God’s promises when we hear that our sins are forgiven.
We can feel God’s promises in the water of the font.
And we can taste and touch God’s promises in the bread and wine of the table. There we all come together to be healed, forgiven and be gifted with a new life.

In the coming days a lot of things will be said about what happened on Friday. Some good, some not so good.

But in all the noise listen to God’s promises:

“Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:
to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.
This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”

God is with us. With all of us. Saints, sinners, the healed and the ones still waiting for healing. God is with us all. Last Friday. Today. Tomorrow. Every day!
Amen.