Pastor’s Corner – December 22, 2024
Advent of Hope
Luke 1:39-55
What is Christian hope? According to Jurgen Moltmann, it is essentially living the present world from the view of God’s promise of the future. In other words, no matter what our present condition, our life is anchored in hope, the promise of God’s coming. In the Flossenburg concentration camp, Dietrich Bonhoeffer went to his execution with these words, “This is the end–for me the beginning of life.” Even in the face of death, hope continues in the promise of God, eternal life. What this looks like is a mystery beyond our horizon, but we trust in faith. John, on the island of Patmos when he wrote the book of Revelation, when he saw the last day of judgement, he didn’t see it as annihilation of the universe, or cosmic death. He saw it as the first day of the new creation of all things “ See, I am making all things new (Rev.21:15) Moltmann puts it this way, “If we perceive it in remembrance of the hope of Christ, what is called the end of history is also simply the end of temporal history and the beginning of the eternal history of life. Christ can only be called ‘the end of history’ in the sense that he is the pioneer and leader of the life that lives eternally. Wherever life is perceived and lived in a community of fellowship with Christ, a new beginning is discovered hidden in every end. What it is I don’t know, but I have confidence that the new beginning will find me and raise me up.” (The Coming of God, p11)
This coming Fourth Advent Sunday, our readings from the prophet Micah, Psalm and gospel point to hope that gives us peace and joy today. Without hope, God’s promise for the future, our present lives can be unbearable or even despairing. However, the message from Mary and Elizabeth this coming Sunday is clear; hope is carried in their bodies, with cries and praise of God for new beginnings. As we come to the end of the year, what do you hope for and imagine in your life today? Bring your hopes with you and let us share our dreams, as Elizabeth and Mary did, as prophet Micah did with a vision of a ruler of peace and return from exile. In our own life, in our struggles, all things will come to pass and new beginnings and hope will rise to meet us. Let us worship God together. Amen.
Pastor Dae