The Advent season begins with great intentions, plans, and new music playing everywhere. Excitement grows as lights and inflatables begin popping up, creating an atmosphere designed to get us in the mood to celebrate. As a child, I recall the anticipation of waiting to see what was under the tree. As I grew older, that anticipation turned to an eager expectation to see the giant smiles of my children opening their gifts and a wish that they would be able to share that with loved ones and children of their own someday. All of this sets the tone that Advent sets for us to connect to the waiting for the coming of Jesus who established Hope for the world through coming to free us from the bondage of sin. My wish for the church is that we don’t fall asleep waiting but remain awake and active in sharing the Gospel, and bring God’s Hope to our communities.
The Gospel Writer Mark invites us to look at Jesus’ words about the Hope we have during Advent and how we are called to “Stay Awake.”
24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, 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 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. 28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out 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 say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake. 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 servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mk 13:24–37.
Advent celebrates the coming of Christ. As discussed by Jesus, we may see signs, but we do not know the day or the hour. Therefore, there is a lot of waiting that is required. However, waiting is not just a passive activity; remaining vigilant and attentive is stressed, which aligns with a fundamental call of Advent, urging us to be receptive and prepared to discern. Just like a partner wanting to get a “list” from their spouse or friend, you can passively wait or discern and actively engage in selecting a gift that will have significant meaning to them. Similarly, we can look at our communities and ask them what they want from their local church, or we can truly give them HOPE by looking at where there is a need and share the HOPE actively with our neighbors. Thus, waiting for Jesus to come becomes a dynamic and meaningful endeavor, interwoven with the active pursuit of God’s mission and the dissemination of hope to enrich the lives of those we encounter on our journey.
The HOPE offered by the church mustn’t look like the hope offered by the various systems of the world. The unparalleled nature of our hope in Christ Jesus underscores the inadequacy of relying on hope in others. A distinctive and unwavering hope sets Christ apart as human connections and self-reliance may falter. People are fallible, and trust in them can be misplaced, but our hope in Jesus remains steadfast and unshakable. God’s hope transcends the worldly understanding of hope, making it imperative to center our focus on fulfilling God’s calling. This involves carrying out the divine purpose designated for us and actively sharing with those around us the extraordinary hope that emanates from our faith in Christ. In recognizing the unique and enduring nature of God’s hope, our commitment to embodying His calling becomes vital to both personal fulfillment and the uplifting of others.
Each Advent has a magical aspect where we wait in hope and share our wish for God to come right now. Through God’s power, we can carry out God’s sanctifying mission in our community. The anticipation of Christ’s return instills in us the imperative to distinguish between our personal wishes and the profound hope anchored in our faith, urging us to engage in God’s work while waiting actively. Despite harboring long wish lists, particularly as devoted followers of God, we may not see all our desires materialize, be it a bustling church community or flourishing ministries. It is during this season of hope that we are prompted to express our wishes, yet we are reminded by the scriptures to discern between these wishes and the enduring hope vested in Christ’s imminent return. Our ultimate hope rests in anticipating Christ’s coming, prompting us, as we await, to actively participate in God’s work and disseminate His hope. Through prayer and the reassurance that Christ will return, we find solace and purpose in contributing to God’s mission, recognizing that our true hope lies in the promise of His return.
While parents and bosses, being human, are susceptible to shortcomings and may occasionally let us down, the reassuring truth lies in the unwavering nature of Jesus’ presence, which transcends the limitations of earthly relationships. By their very nature, human beings are fallible and subject to imperfections, and disappointments may inevitably arise in various facets of life, including familial and professional spheres. However, in stark contrast, the divine essence of Jesus encompasses the extraordinary and the unimaginable. His presence is not bound by the constraints of human frailty, and His reliability remains constant even when others may falter. This profound reality serves as a source of comfort and resilience, reminding us that amidst the inherent limitations of human connections, Jesus dwells in the realm of the extraordinary and the miraculous, offering a steadfast source of support and solace that extends beyond the shortcomings of earthly relationships.
Elpis and Shalom 