Today is the first Sunday in Advent, the day we especially think about hope. Advent is the time when we look back at the first coming of Jesus and give thanks for God’s love, mercy, grace and kindness, shown especially in the first arrival of His Son, which we celebrate at Christmas: God in human form, born in humility and vulnerability, in difficult times of Roman oppression, when His arrival signalled both great hope and a massive flurry of opposition, as Herod tried to maintain his grip on power, not understanding the heavenly nature of this new King.
As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, taking time out from the busyness of the season with its parties, shopping frenzy, decorations, cooking and events (I’m involved in at least nine Christmas services or concerts in December), we are rekindled by hope: hope as we reflect on the fact that the Light has shone in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it, hope that God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all, hope that Jesus is the Light of the world, and that light makes all the difference to a dark and troubled world.
But hope tells us also to look ahead, and not simply to look back. Hope urges us to look ahead to the second arrival of Jesus, which is still to come, ‘the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.’ (Titus 2:13) This is the hope that sustains believers in Christ. We know that His first arrival led to His death and resurrection and that He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own. (Titus 2:14) Christmas reassures us that we can be saved. Easter reminds us that sin, death and the grave do not have the last word. But at Advent, we also look ahead to what is to come: the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, in glory, in judgment, in power.
As Advent hope fuels our lives on earth, we become people ‘eager to do what is good.’ (Titus 2:14) We become people who live to please God and to serve Him. May Advent hope lift your head today and in the weeks to come. Look up! Jesus is coming again.