Advent 2016 Day 2

HOPE (Day 2)

When we are younger, Christmas seems to take FOREVER to get here. The decorations and early Christmas supplies appearing in October only seem to TEASE us as to how far away Christmas seems. But when we’re older… we can’t BELIEVE Christmas has come around already… again. And so soon!

What is it about Christmas that makes us eager for its arrival? The promise of new toys? Of delicious once-a-year foods? Celebrations with family? The Christmas music? I think, underneath it all, it is our innate longing for hope. Christmas brings people some sense of that hope, even if it seems limited to a few days once a year.

We all need hope. When I was a child, I remember my parents taking me to see the movie Pinocchio and hearing the little character, Jiminy Cricket singing the wistful “When You Wish Upon a Star.” It was a hopeful song. But the voice behind the song and Jiminy Cricket was Cliff Edwards, a vaudeville performer back in the day who had quite a following. Sadly, his life ended tragically because of alcohol abuse. Though he voiced a song of hope for generations of children courtesy of Walt Disney, his life ended without the hope he sang about.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could hang on to the hope that Christmas promises every year? If it means more to you than the tinsel and presents and greenery and goodies, it can. These things are packed away every year. But we don’t have to pack our hope away.

Jesus came to bring hope to every heart and joy to every life. His promise was of “life, and life abundantly” and that is the gift He brings… not just at Christmas.

But even to your today.


FOR MEDITATION: “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight.” (Phillip Brooks) In Jesus, every fear can be vanquished in hope. In Jesus, every promise is fulfilled. In Jesus, every hopeful prophecy finds its fulfillment. Have you found a hope that will never leave you?

FOR REFLECTION: This Christmas season, tune your ears to the hope being sung about in the carols of Christmas. We need to be reminded that hope is here in Jesus!

 

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