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Fulda (dpa / lhe) - This year's Christmas in times of the corona pandemic is, from the point of view of Fulda Bishop Michael Gerber, characterized by concern for fellow human beings.
Christmas 2020 confront us "with the fragility of life," said Gerber according to a message in a video message for Christmas.
"Much of what we are doing in these weeks and, above all, much that we cannot do, is geared towards protecting life that is particularly at risk."
In the meantime, almost everyone knows people in their personal environment who are sick with Covid-19.
"Many of us mourn the deaths of loved ones who died from and with Corona."
Not a few are concerned about how they can spend this Christmas well: "You will be at home alone or in a confined space with family members, where some tension may be pre-programmed," says Gerber.
The message of the angel in the Gospel of the Holy Night - "Today the Savior was born to you" - seems to many today "now strange or even ancient," declared the bishop, but there is a deep message in it.
"Here the healing effects of the presence of Jesus can be experienced."
Jesus is also "Savior where personal relationships and partnerships are in crisis".
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The astrologers who made their way to Bethlehem can, in Gerber's words, be seen as people "who obviously had a different worldview."
The bishop sees in this a message "that we do not simply circle around ourselves, but rather are in dialogue with people with a different worldview".
At Christmas 2020 there will not be much that we actually expect every year.
Christmas 2020 could also give new attention to unexpected encounters.