First Week of Advent: hope.

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for,

   the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

If you haven’t noticed, “Hope” has been the theme of this first week of Advent. It’s tradition. It has to do with the lighting of the candles:

        Week One:        light the candle of Hope

        Week Two:       light the candle of Love

        Week Three:     light the candle of Peace

        Week Four:       light the candle of Joy

Shouldn’t we have a candle of “faith,” as in the abiders: “faith, hope and love” (1Cor 13)? I suppose the tradition assumes, and properly so, that we can’t maintain hope without faith: “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for…” (Hb 11). The tradition picks up “love” and “peace” and “joy” from the fruit of the Holy Spirit: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…” (Ga 5:22-23). So, we’ll stick with the tradition.

“Things not seen….”—otherwise it wouldn’t be hope. As the Apostle puts it: “Hope that is seen is not hope” (Ro 8:24). Nevertheless, God has provided a few hints and signs; like the rainbow in the sky (Gn 9): “When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember my everlasting promise…” It’s God’s promise/covenant/resolve that he will not destroy his creation but will see it through. Science tells us that the universe will eventually peter out. God reveals to us that the universe, in and through God the Son, will be wrapped up and made new: “Behold, I am making all things new” (Rv 21:5). That means, in-between now and then, the rainbow in the sky reminds us that creation has meaning, purpose, and an eternal destiny.

The book of Romans gives us a fitting benediction to our first week of Advent (Ro 15:12-13):

May the God of hope fill you

   with all joy and peace in believing,

so that you may abound in hope

   by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

Readings for the First Week of Advent: Hope.

Monday:       Genesis 1:1-5        &  John 1:1-5

Tuesday:       Genesis 1:26-27   &  Colossians 1:15-17

Wednesday: Genesis 3:15         &  Romans 16:20

Thursday:     Genesis 9:12-16   &  Romans 8:18-25

Friday:           Genesis 12:1-3     &  Matthew 1:1, Romans 4:18

Saturday:      Jeremiah 17:13-14 &Romans 15:12-13