THEME: ADVENT Hope, watching with eyes of faith
Take a moment to consciously step into this new season of Advent. What are you hoping for this season?
In Jeremiah 33:14-16, the prophet speaks of a time when God will fulfill His promise to Israel and Judah by raising a righteous Branch from David’s line. This passage is filled with hope and anticipation, emphasising that God’s promises are steadfast and will come to fruition. During Advent, this message resonates deeply as we prepare for the coming of Christ, the fulfillment of God’s promise. The imagery of a new shoot springing from a seemingly dead stump symbolizes new beginnings and the renewal of hope. It encourages us to remain alert and observe the signs of God’s work in our lives, trusting that He is bringing forth new life and justice even in the midst of our struggles.
Ask for the knowledge and understanding you need to grow in faith.
In 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13, Paul expresses profound gratitude and joy for the faith and love of the Thessalonian believers. He prays for their continued growth in love and holiness, preparing them for the coming of the Lord. This passage highlights the importance of community and mutual support in the Christian journey. As we reflect on this during Advent, we are reminded to be vigilant in our faith, nurturing our relationships with one another and with God. The anticipation of Christ’s return calls us to live in a way that reflects His love and holiness, fostering a sense of hope and readiness for the new beginnings that His coming promises. The readings this week call for us to recognise God’s presence – God’s coming – in the midst of the world’s suffering and struggle. The call, then, is to learn to be those who live with a constant sense of God’s presence regardless of our circumstances, and who cooperate with God’s work of justice, righteousness, goodness, and love.
Luke 21:25-38 speaks of cosmic signs and the coming of the Son of Man with power and great glory. Jesus urges His followers to stay alert and be prepared, not weighed down by the worries of life. Fear has a great capacity to change the way we see the world. We imagine all sorts of things that are simply not there, and we miss all sorts of things that are there staring us right in the face. Today’s gospel Jesus is warning the disciples against missing the signs because they’re either too frightened or alternatively too forgetful possibly both. Instead, Jesus suggests a careful almost contemplative consideration of whatever it is that is going on around is not being fearful nor forgetful like neurotics or drunks but rather alert and observing what is really going on with the eyes of faith. 20th century theologian Jurgen Moltmann wrote Christian expectation of the future has nothing whatsoever to do with the end whether it be the end of this life the end of history or the end of the world. Christian expectation is about the beginning. The beginning of True Life the beginning of God’s kingdom and the beginning of the new creation of all things in their enduring form. This passage underscores the theme of Advent hope by reminding us that Christ’s return will bring redemption and the fulfillment of God’s kingdom. It calls us to observe the world with the eyes of faith, recognizing the signs of God’s presence and action. The exhortation to stand up and lift our heads in anticipation of our redemption encourages us to live with a sense of expectancy and hope, knowing that God’s promises are being fulfilled and that a new era is dawning. These readings collectively inspire us to embrace Advent as a season of hope and preparation, staying alert to the signs of God’s work and ready for the new beginnings that Christ’s coming heralds.
If we will allow it, your reign shifts us, leading us from denying to expecting from cynical mocking to faith-filled wonder.
This is a shift we sorely need.
And so we pray for expectation:
That we may see your abundance, and take for granted that it must be shared;
That we may know your wisdom, and assume that it should guide all of our affairs;
That we may sense your peace, and be offended by its destructive alternative;
That we may embrace your wholeness, and find it second nature to bring it to others;
That we may celebrate your justice, and live it as easily as breathing. may we so believe in your constantly coming reign,
That we expect to see it appearing at every turn, in every moment, and live and work as those through whom it comes.
May our Advent worship open our hearts and eyes to the signs of God’s coming and fill our hearts with renewed hope in God’s Reign. Amen