First Sunday of Advent: Hope

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:2 & 6, ESV

Without looking in a dictionary, I would guess that the word "hope" has two distinct definitions. The first might be wishful thinking, like "I hope I can get that specific thing as a Christmas gift", and the other being confident expectation: KNOWING that something is coming, and being hopeful in its expected arrival.

The words of hope from Isaiah chapter 9 definitely fall in the latter definition. Israel had, since the days of Moses, been hopefully anticipating the arrival of The Messiah. Their daily prayers and their Sabbath prayers included expressions of that hope. Isaiah promised light in the darkness, a light that would even penetrate the depth of darkness that the Israelites had experienced through wars, exile and occupation. That light, too, would penetrate the darkness of sin, and bring to us the hope of salvation. The hope made man in the small baby born in Bethlehem.

The Season of Advent brings the hope of reconciliation. The Season of Advent brings the light of hope in the darkness. On this First Sunday of Advent, when we light the single candle, that light penetrates the darkness. While it is but a single candle, it is the first of the lights that come with the Season of Advent. It is the single, simple light of hope that lights our hearts as we prepare for the coming of the Christ Child.

O come, O come, Immanuel,

and ransom captive Israel

that mourns in lonely exile here

until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel

shall come to you, O Israel.

Just a thought: what are you hopeful for this Advent Season? How can you turn that Hope into trust?

Follow John's Advent journey here on his blog, johnscoffeehouse.blogspot.com, or on Facebook, johnscoffeehouse.