Many months ago, it was suggested that our advent sermon series would help the congregation to discover the meaning of the Advent Wreath here in our sanctuary. Much of the history of the advent wreath is on the insert in the bulletin, there for your reading pleasure throughout the advent season.
Each of the candles has meaning—hope, peace, joy, and love. The first candle we lit today represents hope.
Hope is important. It is so important that Friday, Pope Benedict issued a document from the Vatican.
Without some form of hope, Benedict argues life becomes tedious and potentially burdensome, even if it is marked by material affluence and technical progress. A person without hope finds himself in an existential difficulty: For what enduring purpose am I clinging to this life that I love and do not want to lose?
"Here we see as a distinguishing mark of Christians the fact that they have a future: it is not that they know the details of what awaits them, but they know in general terms that their life will not end in emptiness," Benedict writes.
"Only when the future is certain as a positive reality does it become possible to live the present as well."
Hope is not then something for the future alone, a sort of wishful thinking about what might be; it offers meaning for life today. Christian hope is founded on certain faith that life is not a meaningless riddle, but a mystery progressively revealed and finding its fulfillment in the redemption won by Jesus Christ and offered to all peoples. (http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/columnists/story.html?id=136732)
When we speak of hope during Advent, we must mention that hope held by the Old Testament prophets. Isaiah spoke of a time in the future when it would be said
2 The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined...
6 For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will beno end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The Old Testament prophets looked to the coming of the Messiah with hope—confident expectation. There was no doubt, even in the darkest times, that the coming of the Messiah was an event that would happen—simply no question!
The New Testament writers spoke of hope as an abiding part of the righteous life livd in response to th saving grace of Jesus Christ. Paul writes in Romans 12:
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
As much as faith and prayer and love and good deeds are a part of the Christian life, Paul asserts that hope is a response to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Because God so loved the world, he gave his only son, that whoever believes would find everlasting life in that relationship. Hope is a response to this incredible gift!
Hope remains vital today. Not only does it give life to our daily tasks and life, but hope anticipates our future—it anticipates Christ's return, the Kingdom of God come fully on earth. Like that of the Old Testament prophets, Christian hope today is not a shallow “hope it rains,” or an empty “hope I get a pony for Christmas,” it is full blown HOPE – the greek word elpis—confident expectation, anticipation of a sure and certain future.
Peter wrote that as a Christian, you should, “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;” --1 Peter 1:13 NKJV
We celebrate Christmas, not only as a remembrance of the coming of the Messiah, God's Son made flesh to dwell among us, our Savior as an infant, we celebrate the spirit of Christmas throughout the year as a part of our common Christian calling—to live in the spirit of prayer, giving, thankfulness, care, love, joy, peace, and yes, confident expectation—hope of Christ's return.
No comments:
Post a Comment