My apartment overlooks a church. As I sit at my desk by the window, working, I often glance outside to see if anyone enters to pray. They do, but rarely. Perhaps half a percent of the countless masses, always rushing about their business, find the time.

Watching them, I recall the heroes of the Christmas story—the magi and the shepherds. Why them? Because these dissimilar people share one crucial trait: they went in search of the newborn Savior, though no one explicitly called them to do so.

They were given signs, hints to follow. The magi saw a star that they associated with an ancient prophecy about the birth of a King. Angels appeared to the shepherds. Neither group was given a direct command to find the Newborn. Yet, they were seized by a fervent desire to see the Child. They set out, not entirely sure where they were going.

They could have acted differently. The unusual star could have been noted in a thick book and forgotten. The vision of angels could have been marveled at and recounted to friends. But the news of Christmas became an imperative for these people. Knowledge of God transformed into the experience of seeking Him.

What do we have instead of angels and stars? We have churches. Ancient and new, small and large. They dot the landscape of our motherland, Russia, reminding us of God and inevitably bringing thoughts of Him to mind. Modern people walk past churches and monasteries, hearing echoes of sermons—on the radio, television, the internet, in newspapers. Every educated person is at least somewhat familiar with the Bible's narrative. Yet, few have the desire to practically test the received message.

There is plenty of information about God, but it doesn't become a call to action!

The sluggishness of the heart in response to the Good News is a problem for us, the churchgoers, too. Upon entering the Church, we gradually relax, as if merely being in the true faith guarantees salvation.

But believing in the Gospel is not enough—we must serve it. The Gospel is not just "good news," it is astonishing news! A Christian is someone who has heard something so profound that they can no longer live as before. They must change significantly and serve Christ.

"Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about," said the biblical shepherds to one another. Their words are directed at us, too. They invite us to step out of our habitual daily routines and "embrace the great maybe," as François Rabelais put it.

We only need to let our hearts respond. And it will inevitably lead us to the church. To embrace the "great maybe"...

Original article: radiovera.ru/ispytat-velikoe-mozhet-byt-sergej-komarov.html