The Gospel of Luke 21:25-36
Jesus said, “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
“Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
The Season of Advent
Advent is a four-week season dedicated to reflective preparation for the arrival, “advent”, of Jesus Christ’s Nativity at Christmas time as well and Christ’s expected return in the Second Coming. During this important event on the church calendar, each week of Advent focuses on a different theme – hope, peace, joy, and love. Christians from all denominations and backgrounds celebrate Advent in different ways but all focus on the anticipation of waiting for the arrival of Jesus.
A common tradition associated with Advent:
The Advent Wreath: Lighting candles on an Advent wreath is a common practice. The wreath typically has four candles, each representing one of the four weeks of Advent (Hope, Peace, Joy and Love). A new candle is lit on each Sunday leading up to Christmas.
The colors for Advent are Royal Purple or Blue and on the third Sunday of Advent, pink for Gaudete Sunday, Sunday of Joy.
Let us Pray:
God of hope, who brought love into this world, be the love that dwells between us.
God of hope, who brought peace into this world, be the peace that dwells between us.
God of hope, who brought joy into this world, be the joy that dwells between us.
God of hope, the rock we stand upon, be the center, the focus of our lives always, and particularly this Advent time.
This we pray in expectation of the coming of our Lord and Savior. Amen.
This Sunday we light the first candle of the Advent wreath. This is the candle of HOPE. With Christians around the world, we use this light to help us prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of God’s Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. May we receive God’s light as we hear the words of the prophet Isaiah: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness — on them light has shined.”—Isaiah 9:2
Advent is not just the season before Christmas, it describes the reality of life and world. Advent is a season of change, letting go, and looking to a future that is not yet clear or known. Advent is a time of expectation, anticipation, and excitement. It was a sign that Jesus was born, and now we wait for the time that Jesus will come again. It is also the promise of hope, Jesus offers us this message of HOPE: Hope as we look forward to the future one day at a time. What do you think of when you hear the word “hope?” Some common synonyms for hope are: anticipation, belief, expectation, optimism, intangible things, right? Other thoughts what hope might mean, winning the lottery, Great health and prosperous life. It seems the word “hope” can have a variety of meanings, ranging from the vague and intangible to the impossible and downright absurd. Hope isn’t empty optimism about castles in the sky! We need to remember how the Bible talks about hope. There’s nothing vague about it. Hopes aren’t pinned on blind optimism. Hopes are anchored in the nail scarred hands of the Son of God who gives you a sure and certain hope, rooted in the promises of God. Hope is the theme for our Advent gospel today, and Christ’s coming brings hope.
With the promise of hope we should open the doors of life with new courage and confidence. We should look at the world with a new sense of compassion and hope. We should be strengthened to do the work God has given us to do.
The Advent seasons of our lives (our seasons of expectations) can be long, difficult, and painful. But we never face these seasons without the signs of hope and reassurance, signs that point to the one who is coming. Clearly Jesus hopes we will be alert and awake to his coming, not only at the “end of time” but today and every day. Remember “There will be signs,” Jesus said. And are those signs showing up today? Signs that things are foreboding of what is coming upon the world. This message serves as a reminder of our worldly troubles and the ultimate hope and redemption that Christ promises. It calls for an alertness and preparedness in our spiritual lives, encouraging us to remain steadfast in faith and prayer.
So, we can understand why our church is called HOPE. (Hope Episcopal Church) We recognize the promises of God. HOPE.
Let us Pray: Lord, in times of distress and uncertainty, help us to lift our eyes to you. Remind us that your redemption is near and that your promises are steadfast. Grant us hope and peace as we navigate the challenges of this world.” Helping us to remain faithful and to stand firm, knowing that you are our rock and salvation.” This we pray as Jesus is our Hope and salvation. Amen.
Reflections by Bob 