So, I don’t want to harp on something that everyone has been talking about for the past year and a bit- however, I’m going to haha. I should firstly start positively and highlight how blessed we are to be living in a time where we have access and privilege to so many things in life like food, shelter and safety, particularly in a country like Australia. Yet the whole issue of COVID has seemed to cover our world with a sense of angst and fear. No matter who you are, it doesn’t take long to read or hear about something related to this issue and personally, it can be a little hard to swallow at times. The question then comes to mind, where do we find a sense of joy or even hope amidst all of this? At this point in time, a COVID free future seems quite difficult to imagine and yet with all the restrictions and limitations set in place, the season of Advent and Christmas will still come without fail. Thank goodness for that! Let’s not forget what this special time in our liturgical calendar offers- it brings a sense of hope. Perhaps not a straightforward sense of hope in relation to our COVID situation but in essence, it takes us away from the focus of this world and shifts our eyes to hope for greater things.
I know that it was a bit of a long and winding introduction, but this sense of hope can be forgotten, buried beneath all the fret and worries of worldly issues. I know we can forget the beauty of hope beyond our current struggles and challenges but we may just need to dig a little deeper. Throughout the week I have had this first Sunday of Advent in mind. This Sunday is when we light the first candle which stands for hope. When I awoke this morning, Matt Maher’s song, ‘Hope for Everyone’ came to mind. So, I jumped out of bed to start playing it and this line stood out, ‘we are waiting on the promise for the one who lights the darkness, bending low to be among us, bring your glory in the highest… Jesus’
How true is this though? How easily does it roll off the tongue in saying that Jesus was born on Christmas day? Do we sit to ponder that our world for so long groaned in hope for something or someone greater than we could have ever imagined? I don’t think I for one do this enough.
Even if it feels far from an idea and carefree future, Jesus does in fact offer us a sense of hope. He has come to be with us and offer us a peace that the world cannot offer. I mean, in the darkest of places the smallest light can always be seen. Ultimately, Jesus is the light amidst the darkest of times. Sure, I could go on to say more but perhaps we can this week, listen and ponder Matt Maher’s song as we focus on the virtue of hope this first week of Advent. Simply because amidst the chaos, confusion and fear in our world, there is a gift of hope Jesus offers us.. how will we access it?
Wishing you a blessed beginning to the Advent season!
maya.
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