Dear friends,
I know it is a cliche, but “time has flown by”, it can’t be December 7th already? I am not sure what date I want it to be and I am not sure why today’s date catches me by surprise. But it has. There is so much going on in our lives. Not only do I get caught up in the busyness of the season I am also attempting to be faithful in engaging the issues of the day. There are so many issues that it is often overwhelming. Whether it is the human suffering in the middle east and Ukraine, or the suffering that is in our own backyards. And this suffering is intensifying because of conditions that seem to be beyond our control. As we notice the tent encampments around our city, it doesn’t take much imagination to understand the stresses that so many people are experiencing today.
During the season of Advent and Christmas we will be exploring the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah was active during a time of great social, religious and political trauma and upheaval that caused great uncertainty for the people of Israel. And this uncertainty is present again at time of Jesus’ birth. The season of advent is an invitation to all of us to explore the nature of hope in light of our present circumstances.
William Sloane Coffin compares hope with hopelessness. He writes "hope criticizes what is, hopelessness rationalizes it. Hope resists, hopelessness adapts." And Clinton McCann Jr., comments, genuine hope invites and energizes faithful action. This is the sentiment of this Presbyterian affirmation of faith: “We know our efforts cannot bring in God's kingdom. But hope plunges us into the struggle for victories over evil that are possible now in the world, the church, and our individual lives. Hope gives us courage and energy to contend against all opposition, however invincible it may seem, for the new world and the new humanity that are surely coming.”
I think that Coffin and McCann sense of hope is a powerful way for us to consider what it means to have a posture of waiting, anticipation and preparation during this season. As we struggle with what hope means in our context we are invited to interact with our biblical story and discover its meaning for today and may this genuine hope energize our faithful action.
In closing I offer this prayer (adapted from a prayer in Voices United #26).
Who are we, O God, that you should come to us? Yet you have visited your people and redeemed us in your Son. As we prepare to celebrate his birth, make our hearts leap in hope at the sound of your word, and move us by your spirit to make a difference in your world. We ask this through him whose coming is certain, whose day draws near, even your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Debbie, Laurissa, Robert and I wish you a joyous Christmas and the blessings of the season.
Yours in Christ’s Service,
Rev. Stephen Fram