Hope

We are heading into the season of Advent and Christmas. Advent is the time before Christmas when we prepare for the arrival of the Christ child. The person of Jesus has already arrived historically, but we prepare ourselves to receive a new, spiritual, Christ child that will be born to us again. A child of light and love that will be born within us, that we will nurture and grow in the new year as it awaits on the horizon.

It takes time to prepare for a new baby to arrive. We don’t just wake up and be ready to receive a new child into our homes and families. There are months to make our homes and our bodies ready to embrace this gift coming to us. In the same way, we don’t just wake up on Christmas morning and magically become ready to truly receive a new Christ child born to us. During this time of Advent, the time of waiting and preparing, the time leading up to Christmas, we make ourselves ready to receive such a wonderful gift.

We may ready our homes with decorations. We may give more to people in need. We may attend church more or read a special daily Advent devotional. We may incorporate an Advent candle lighting and reading each week. We may try our best, despite the busyness of the season, to pause and look at a fire in the fireplace or the lights on a Christmas tree, surrounding ourselves in light, as we reflect on the coming light of Christ.
In this time of preparation, we make ourselves more open to notice the signs of the season. Even in the busyness of parties, gift giving, special concerts, plays, and music celebrations, there are signs that the Christ child is coming. These are even signs themselves.

Instead of providing a reflection here each week, I invite you to reflect on the weekly scripture. We will turn our attention to the traditional focus of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love through the season. This practice is an invitation to receive these gifts that the Christ child brings, and hopefully you will notice signs of each of these gifts around you throughout the season.

For this first week of Advent that begins on Sunday, December 3, the scripture is Mark 13:24-37. As you read the scripture, look for signs of hope. What word, phrase, or image represents a sign of hope to you?
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Mark 13:24-37[i]
The Coming of the Son of Man
24 “But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened,
    and the moon will not give its light,
25 and the stars will be falling from heaven,
    and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
26 “Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. 27 Then he will send out the angels and gather the elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

The Lesson of the Fig Tree
28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

The Necessity for Watchfulness
32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Beware, keep alert, for you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. 35 Therefore, keep awake, for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening or at midnight or at cockcrow or at dawn, 36 or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”

Reflection Question:
Where did you see signs of hope? There are no right or wrong answers.

Action: Explore, perhaps in a journal, why this word, phrase, or image is a sign of hope for you.
Action: Be a sign of hope for someone this week.  
 
[i]New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition (NRSVUE). Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. All rights reserved worldwide.