In today's world, full of despair and hopelessness, in a world filled with false hope based on fleeting promises and false gods, true hope often can elude us. Hope is more than an abstract concept concerned with some distant future. Genuine hope must be connected to everyday reality yet grounded in the confident assurance that these things for which we long will come to pass.
How welcome, then is Advent, with its focus on humanity's yearning for justice, renewal, healing, liberation and comfort.
For centuries the people of God continued to hope despite their suffering from persecution destruction and exile; their hopes were fulfilled. The Old Testament readings of Advent liturgies reveal God's wondrous works and steadfast love and gives us ample assurance that God loves us as God loved the Israelites.
We hold on to the message of Advent in hope. We search for wisdom and courage, we ask for God's help in our struggles, we rejoice and give thanks when our hopes are realized.
Advent essentially is therefore a season of hope in three key areas. We look forward to remembering and revisiting Christ birth in our world- the incarnation which is a cornerstone of our belief. Then we look forward in hope to the day we meet Christ face to face on a personal level as we leave this world. We also look forward in hope to His second coming at the end of time since then everything will be put under His feet and Christ shall reign for ever.
The vignettes and scripture selections which I offer during this series are, I hope a reminder that God does work in mysterious ways that God always loves us, and that God keeps His promises.
I also offer a suggestion that you and/or your family could touch these scripture passages to make them a reality for you and your household. I will also offer some music that can accompany your reflection time.
During this advent-in this season on hope let us commit ourselves again to trusting in God and in His promises. Let us commit to being a people of hope.
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