Advent 1: Hope

Full moon rising through the clouds- November 2021

But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.

Psalm 9:18

Today we lit the Hope candle on the Advent wreath as we marked the beginning of the season of waiting... waiting for the promise of Christ in a dark and needy world. This hope is not wishful thinking but is the assurance that God will fulfill his promises to those who trust in him. 

I worked this weekend in a very busy hospital, with the emergency department bulging and patients receiving treatment in hallway stretchers and chairs. As needy as our patients were, I thought about sick and suffering people around the world who do not have access to free medical care or any medical care at all. Working in rehabilitation is all about giving people hope, encouraging them to regain the function they have lost, and helping them take steps toward independence. I am so grateful for the opportunities I have to serve others in this way. It reminds me in a small way how God has promised to heal and rehabilitate humankind and all creation.

We continue to wait for the day when justice and righteousness will rule bringing peace on earth. Christ came and showed his followers the way to spread hope in the world. When he started his ministry, Luke records that Jesus stood in the synagogue and read from Isaiah 61, fulfilling this prophecy of hope.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

because he has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

and recovery of sight for the blind,

to set the oppressed free,

 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”

Isaiah 58 outlines specific ways that we can bring hope and light to a suffering world. 

Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;

lighten the burden of those who work for you.

Let the oppressed go free,

and remove the chains that bind people.

Share your food with the hungry,

and give shelter to the homeless.

Give clothes to those who need them,

and do not hide from relatives who need your help.

“Then your salvation will come like the dawn,

and your wounds will quickly heal.

Your godliness will lead you forward,

and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.

I have the song "Peace on Earth" from U2's album "All That You Can't Leave Behind" on my Christmas playlist. It speaks of the hope and yearning we all have for peace, a hope that remains unfulfilled for many. May we find ways to bring hope to others this Christmas season.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him. Romans 13:15