Hopeful?

Today is the first Sunday of Advent, the Sunday of Hope! For some reason I said it is the first Sunday of Lent when there are NO Sundays of Lent, there are only Sundays in Lent.

As I mention in the sermon, I am very grateful the church year begins with the hope. I am especially grateful this year when it is very hard to be hopeful for many people. There is conflict seemingly everywhere both the shooting and the shouting kind. Western culture, even including Canada seems more fractured and divided than it ever has. What is there to hope for?

Jesus uses the symbol of a tree to remind us that what we hope for is not necessarily in our control but it can still come. He says when we see the leaves come out, we know summer is on the way. We don’t have to plead with the tree to put out leaves. We don’t have to threaten the tree to put out leaves. The tree will put out leaves regardless of whatever we think or do.

As I have often said, I have no idea what the end of all things will look like, nor do I have any idea of when it will be. What I do have is hope that the God who loves us enough to send us their beloved Child to live with us and show us a better way, will most certainly not forget us.

As always, let me know what you think as you are able and willing.

“Hopeful” Trinity Presbyterian (to download, right-click and select “Save Link As . . .”)

Blessings,