Advent 2a Wed Romans 15:4-13 Hope in Christ

Isaiah 11:1-10 Matthew 3:1-12

Saint Paul in our Epistle lesson says, “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

If there is one word that defines Christmas what word would you choose? Some words that come to mind are singing, peace, love, joy, incarnation, and Jesus. Other words are more worldly: snow, gifts, parties and shopping. I’m sure there are other words that we could use in describing Christmas; however, I want to focus one word. For many people, Christmas is a time for hope.

The dictionary defines hope as “a feeling that what is wanted will happen; a desire accompanied by expectation.”  The world hopes in this manner, with feelings that are subject to disappointment. You may here someone say, “I hope I get a flat screen TV for Christmas.” But hoping based on feelings often leads to disappointments. Hoping in such a manner is really more about wishing.

There is no guarantee that you will get what you wish for. And when you do not get what you want that can lead to hopelessness. Hopelessness is a dreadful thing. When you set your expectations too high and do not get what you want, hope turns to despair and it robs you of peace and joy.

 On an individual basis, the world’s idea of joy and peace is whatever it takes to make one happy.  If that means others have to suffer in order to be happy then so be it. And the world’s definition of peace is similar. Peace means that as long as they have no conflicts in their life and all is going well for them, then they are content and have peace.

In the past few years, we have seen events that seemed hopeless, the bombing of the world trade towers, Hurricanes such as Katrina and the terrorists’ activities throughout the world. Those events left many people feeling hopeless. They have lost their spouses or their health. They have lost friends and families. Many had put their hope and trust in their money, houses, jobs or in their spouses.  Their happiness disappeared along with their possessions. Hope based solely on feelings, desires, positive thoughts or on the things of this world will eventually lead one to despair.

However there is another definition of hope—a Christian definition. "Hope is an expectation based on the promises of God." Saint Paul tells us that everything written in the past, that is everything written in Scripture was written to teach us about God’s promises, which point to the coming of Jesus Christ. The end result of this teaching is that we might have hope. No matter how dark the day, no matter what disasters may befall us, God’s Word gives us peace, joy and hope. The word assures us that God’s hand is busy actively directing all things for the good of those who love Him.
 

And the means through which the Scripture gives us this hope is in Paul’s words,” through endurance and the encouragement of the scriptures. The picture Paul paints is that of a weight lifter picking up a weight and holding it above his head. What Paul is saying is that we are to be patient with those who are weaker or different from us and encouraging them in the Scripture.
 

In other words we are to patiently endure the trials and tribulations of this life so as to afford hope to those who have not known what true hope is.

Hope in Christ does not disappoint. There are many disappointments in life. People let us down. Life sometimes lets us down. Paul encourages us in Romans when He says, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Romans (5:1-5 ESV) 

Our hope comes from God and not from ourselves. In fact our hope is found only in Christ Jesus. Paul prays for true peace and joy which comes when we live in harmony with God and our neighbor. The only way to grow in hope, the only way to be filled with all the joy and peace and the only way Christians can accept each other is by the power of the Holy Spirit. In fact Jesus is hope.

That Hope comes to you humbly as a little child lying in a manger. He comes to you gentle and riding on a donkey. He came with healing and kind words. He came carrying our sins and bearing a heavy cross, patiently holding them until the price for your sins was paid in full. Hope comes to you in the power of the resurrection. For whatever was written in former days has come true so that you may believe the words proclaimed in Scripture are accurate. Therefore you can place your hope in God’s promises yet to be fulfilled.

Hope still comes to you in the Church. He comes to you gently in the liturgy. Hope comes to you in the healing waters of baptism and in the kind words of the Gospel. Hope humbly appears with the power of forgiveness in the bread and wine. And Hope will come again in all His power and glory to bring you and all believers into His heavenly kingdom.  

So we look forward to Christmas with the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ who fills us with the best gift of Christmas. That gift is the gift of Jesus Christ, the gift of Hope. May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. In Jesus Name, Amen.