Sermon for December 6, 2020

The Hope of Advent

Isaiah 40: 1-4

The hope of advent is not one of wishful thinking in some matter, while thinking that there is a possibility sometimes even a very distinct possibility  that what is hoped for will not be realized, expecting failure rather than a positive outcome.   That hope is defeatist in nature and leaves the door open for disappointment.  .

One thing most people are hoping for today is the development of an effective vaccine in the fight to contain the COVID 19 pandemic.  We want to see the containment of this disease, we want  lives to be saved, and we want to be able to return to some semblance of normalcy, although it may never be quite the same again.  So, there is a hope, but one which is more than wishful thinking.  There is great expectation and much anticipation.  However, in the minds of some, there remains a certain level of uncertainty as the world waits the successful development and  testing of at least one of those that are being work on.  We hope  - for it but it is conditional on the work of the scientists and researchers, as well as those who make decisions that affect our lives.

We hope for the right decisions to be made as the world seeks to chart something of a new way forward bearing in mind the impact the pandemic is on every aspect of life.  Meanwhile there is a sense of discomfort, despair and question remains – is there hope for the future for a people who feel a sense of being held captive by circumstances in which we find ourselves.

Let us look at today’s Old Testament from the prophecy of Isaiah which follow the first 39 chapters in which, to my mind, we have words of comfort with the prospect of judgment/warning.

One example is found in chapter 9 which begins with  those familiar words of hope which we hear  especially during the Advent/Christmas season.

Verse 2 declares: 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.  Then the prophet continues in verse 6  “6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.  He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Then immediately at versus 8 there is a tone of judgment/warning : 8 The Lord has sent a word against Jacob, and it will fall on Israel; 9 and all the people will know, Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria,  who say in pride and in arrogance of heart: 10 “The bricks have fallen, but we will build with dressed stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.” 11 But the Lord raises the adversaries of Rezin against him, and stirs up his enemies”  this is the general trend of the first part of the book.

The reading from the Isaiah 40 that begins with a different emphasis:  Here we have words of comfort, words of blessing words hope for a people in captivity.

“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.”

This is a word of hope for a people undergoing a period of anxiety, hopelessness and desperately looking for relief from their predicament.

Here  is hope for a people who had suffered at the hands of the Babylonians because of their disobedience God.  It was a captivity allowed,  for their punishment but for redemption.  It was to restore his chosen people who had been unfaithful to him.  Now he says to the  prophet speak works of comfort my people, speak to them not words of harsh condemnation but words of love and reconciliation.  Assure them that their hard service has been completed, her sin has been paid for.

This message to the people was  one that would give real hope and not just wishful thinking. 

There is the tendency  to see almost every adverse situation that has a negative impact on life as God dispensing judgment.  We hear it often and we hear it in these times.  God is punishing for all sorts of reasons.  But is that how we should look at adversity?  That is NOT what we hear from today’s reading!  During adversity which may be painful, we can have hope

It is painful to hear of the thousands who have contracted or have died or are suffering from the pandemic.  It is heartbreaking when we hear of storms leaving thousands homeless and without the necessities of life, food, water, shelter and clothing among other things.  These are adversities yes, but they also present opportunities to experience a real sense the hope of Advent.  This is the hope we have when we see those who are able responding to the needs of others, offering a new dispensation on life, helping to chart a way forward guided by of God who loves and not one doling out punishment.  

In every situation of adversity, God reveals something that will bring hope that is unshakable, a hope that is enduring, a hope and that says, this is not the end, we can move forward with God into a new day.   

Remember the words given by God to the prophet Ezekiel 33:11: Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?

That is what God wants when we face adversity.   It is NOT God’s punishment, but he is saying, listen, in this situation you have an opportunity to look at yourselves, to assess where you are, and turn to me.

The hope of Advent requires that change from wishful thinking to certainty.  Shift from a sense of tentative hope, from saying, perhaps God will deliver to having the faith that God will deliver

The hope of Advent does not depend totally on what others may do or promise to do of their own volition, though although the intervention of others can be helpful,  The hope of Advent lies in what God brings to us is our situations.   

As he said to the children of Israel though prophet, God is saying to us in our situations of captivity,  Comfort, comfort my people.  Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed. 

As he gave the people of Israel hope, so too he gives hope in today’s world, through Jesus Christ.

The Hope of advent was announced by John the Baptist who came as the voice calling in the wilderness for the people in his day and now in our time to

 Prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.[b]

As people went to john confessing their sins, perhaps in hope of a new life, he  made it clear that HE was not the Messiah.  Their hope did not rest with him.  He was only the messenger, calling for the .people to repent and receive the one who would follow, one who was greater than he was, one whose sandals he felt himself unworthy to untie.  That one, said John would baptize with the Holy Spirit. 

Advent and Christmas this year is quite different compared even to last year, it does not mean that the hope with have in Jesus, and the hope, indeed firm belief that he will return is to be diminished in any way.  I suggest rather that our hope ought to be firmer because God is with us our times of distress, He is with us in our times of suffering, in our struggles with sickness, and in our times of need

I close by saying to us that our hope must not be just wishful thinking, but our hope lies in the knowledge that Jesus will return, as we passionately believe.

I close with these words of the hymn by  John Wesley:

“Come, O  long expected Jesus, born to set your people free

From our fears and sins release us; O, in you our rest shall be,

Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of to all the earth impart,

Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.”

AMEN.