Reflecting on Matthew 3 for his Advent message in 1928, Dietrich Bonhoeffer said this:

We have become so accustomed to the idea of divine love and of God’s coming at Christmas that we no longer feel the shiver of fear that God’s coming should arouse in us… The coming of God is truly not only glad tidings, but first of all frightening news for everyone who has a conscience. only when we have felt the terror of the matter can we recognize the incomparable kindness. God comes into the very midst of evil and of death, and judges the evil in us and in the world. And by judging us, God cleanses and sanctifies us, comes to us with grace and love.

Lord, help me be prepared in my heart and life to meet you!