We Hope
12 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In this place, desolate and without people or animals—in all its towns there will again be pastures for shepherds to rest their flocks. 13 In the towns of the hill country, of the western foothills and of the Negev, in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem and in the towns of Judah, flocks will again pass under the hand of the one who counts them,’ says the Lord. 14 “‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah. 15 “‘In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.’"
(Jeremiah 33:12-16)
The prophet, Jeremiah, shared words of hope with the Israelite community depicting a time of blessing that God promised would follow the time of judgement that they were living in. They were being oppressed because they had turned away from - disobeying and disregarding - the God who had already delivered them. To receive the hope-filled future God had for them, God's people had to acknowledge their sin by recognizing the things they had put in place of God, let those things go, and turn back to God.
Last week we concluded the Christian year by acknowledging the authority of Christ. We were challenged to recognize the things we have allowed to rule us, let them go, and restore Christ to that rightful place in our lives. Just as we must be mindful where authority over our lives rests, we must be careful about where we place our hope. This week, as we move into the Advent season, we are invited to carry that declaration of authority forward, waiting with expectation for the birth of Hope itself. Advent reminds us that in Christ, hope is not a fleeting feeling but a steadfast trust in God’s goodness and power to restore all things. God can bring life to the dead places in our world, in our communities, and within us when we walk in the way of Christ. We can only truly embrace the hope for a future of justice, mercy and security when we trust that the goodness of God is better than our own will. With God's help, may we prepare our hearts for the hope of Christ to be born anew.
1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me. 3 Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. 4 Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. 5 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long. 6 Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. 7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD! (Psalm 25 1-7)
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