Advent 1: Hope

"O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,

That mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel."

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We stand at the threshold of a new year. Not just a new calendar year, but a new church year. The Lectionary has cycled to its next year; the colors have shifted to purples, blues, and pinks; hymnals and missals have been flipped to the front or other specific section. Advent is here...

Advent means "coming" or "appearing." It is the season of preparation for Christmas, the Nativity, the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. Originally, it was (and still is for some of the Church) a time of penitence and fasting. It was a season to re-focus on the Triune God and discipline ourselves in anticipation of the Messiah's coming (This is the reason purple is the color associated with both Advent and Lent as they are both seasons of fasting and penitence).

The theme for the first Sunday of Advent is hope. We much, like the Israelites of old, hold fast to the prophecy of Messiah's coming. The Prophet Isaiah said He would bear many titles; notable among them is "Emmanuel," meaning "God with us." What an awesome thought - that very God of very God would dwell with men as a Man!

A couple weeks ago I began to ponder what significance this should have for Christians. If God is with us, then all the things of God are available to us: His love, peace, joy, healing, provision, etc. It is all available to us by virtue of His promises to, and covenant with, us. However, it doesn't stop there...

If God is dwelling in us as children of God, then we are the keepers and bearers of the things of God. Therefore, as His children, it is up to us to announce the Good News of the Gospel and to extend the things of God (love, healing, peace, etc.) to all creation. The Advent is the ransoming, the redemption, of the captives, the proclamation of the good news to the poor, the binding up of the brokenhearted, release from darkness for the prisoners, and comfort to all who mourn (Isaiah 61). All this now happens through us via the power of the Holy Spirit.

All this, then, begs the question: with what are we "appearing" before creation? Peace or distress? Love or divisiveness? Healing or condemnation? May we conduct the hope of God in our dealings with all creation.