All year long we wait for the season of Advent, anticipating the celebration of the arrival of Jesus. During the weeks of Advent, we are pleased to offer a devotional reflection that draws on the four themes of Advent: Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love. We hope you’ll be encouraged and reminded of the God who is with us, Emmanuel. In addition, we invite you to support the work of CCDA, and hope you’ll consider giving generously during this season.
November 29: Hope
Advent is a season recognized throughout church traditions to anticipate and await the arrival of Jesus. The Word that had been hoped for from the earliest
stories in scripture finally makes himself known as the Word became flesh.
Beginning this journey through advent, we invite you to consider what it means to live into the hope of the coming Christ. The words of the psalmist in Psalm 43 are an invitation to put our hope and joy in our Savior and our God. The psalmist beseeches God to send his light and faithful care in the midst of a downcast and troubled soul. The season of advent invites us to reflect on the arrival of Jesus as the very light and faithful care the psalmist speaks of. He is Emmanuel, God with us, and the source of an eternal hope that transcends our circumstance.
We may be quick to adopt an attitude of hopelessness and discouragement in our world. We are inundated by news of tragedy and stories of trauma and profound loss. We live in broken communities and our world and nation bear the wounds of mass violence, terrorism, racism, war and refugee crises, and natural disaster. Just when we may be questioning where God is in the midst of our tragedy, Advent calls us to remember Emmanuel, God with us, and the source of our hope.
In this season of light, we recall the story of God entering into our midst. As we sit in the tension of our grief and the hope set before us, God invites us to wrestle with the dissonance of our reality and his promise by engaging issues of injustice with hope. Just as the birth of Christ broke into the world of darkness, we find ourselves an extension of the light of Christ, the hands and feet of the God who is with us. Jesus comes into the world as the son of a refugee family, seeking welcome and care in the midst of turmoil. May we be stirred to welcome the refugee or stranger in our midst, extending the hospitality of God with us as we embody the hope of Christ.
As we move into these next four weeks, may we be brought back to the roots of this season, recalling the hope set before us and preparing our hearts and minds to welcome the Son of God.
An Opportunity To Bring Hope
You can stand with those who are bringing hope to the vulnerable in our communities. Help us continue to shine hope in the world as we inspire, train and connect those ministering on the margins. Make an online donation today or text “CCDA” to 77977 to support our mission in a few easy steps. Checks can be sent to 3827 W. Ogden Ave., Chicago, IL 60623.
Thank you for bringing hope to us through your passion to bring wholeness to the marginalized.
