Hope and Change

Hope is the expectation and desire for a positive future outcome, and it is a powerful driver of change.  It fuels our desire to improve our own circumstances and those of the world around us. Unlike passive optimism, which expects that good things will happen, hope is action

oriented.  It calls us to work actively toward a better future, even when we face setbacks.  It requires a vision of what could be, giving our efforts direction and purpose.

Just as last week’s scriptures offered Isaiah’s vision of swords turned into plowshares, this Sunday we encounter another of Isaiah’s images of hope for universal peace.  In Isaiah’s time, when people feared for the safety of their families and animals, the prophet spoke of a world where even natural enemies would live together in harmony.  The wolf and the lamb, the cow and the bear, and even a child with a serpent. This is the peaceable kingdom we are invited to hope for during Advent.

Paul’s letter to the Romans reminds us that hope is nurtured through endurance and the encouragement found in scripture.  His call to action for the community is to live in harmony so that all, whether Jew or Gentile, might speak with one voice of faith.

In the Gospel of Matthew, we meet one of the New Testament’s most striking agents of change: John the Baptist.  His call to “prepare the way of the Lord” is no longer about a physical journey, but a transformation of human hearts.  The hope in his message is the promise of a renewed life.

Christmas Connections

The entire Nativity story is a living example of hope in action. From the Annunciation to Joseph’s acceptance of Mary, to the joyful reality of Jesus’ birth, the story embodies trust in God and hope in the possibility of something transformative. The story parallels God’s invitation to live out hope in our own lives, with trust, anticipation and the willingness to let ourselves be shaped by something new.

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Faith Sharing Questions

1. In what ways can you actively cultivate a hopeful outlook during Advent?

2. This Advent, how can you prepare your heart, like John the Baptist suggests, for a renewed sense of life and purpose?

3. How does the call for all who follow Jesus to live in harmony and speak with one voice personally resonate with you?

4. Do you see John the Baptist’s message as one of hope?  Why or why not?

5. Does the Nativity story inspire you to trust in God’s plan? Why or why not?