Through Mary’s simple faith she received the spirit and thus conceived Christ, and he was born of her. Those who want to be reborn must, like Mary, first hear the Word and then believe it. And then, in the humility of Jesus and of Mary, we must learn to occupy the most modest human place in loving, devoted, long-suffering and in the freedom of joy.

- Eberhard Arnold

The light of Christ’s coming and of his future becomes especially evident by way of contrast with the dark state of the present world. Such contrast brings the nearness of Christ’s coming: The light shines into the darkness, which does not receive it; yet neither can the darkness overcome the light.

- Eberhard Arnold

In Christ – and particularly the Christ child – all human pride was cast down, and all degradation was raised up. Mary and Elizabeth had already recognized this in their songs of praise before the birth of Jesus. And why? Because the love of God cannot be revealed in any other way. When the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the early Christians, no one was able to keep his possessions to himself anymore.They surrendered everything – just as Jesus did at his birth.

- Eberhard Arnold