by Diane Brauer
All earth is hopeful, the Savior comes at last!
Furrows lie open for God’s creative task.1
ELW 266
As we enter the season of Advent this year, the words of this hymn come to mind. Advent calls us to take a holy pause to wait, to hope, and to anticipate. As we enter the season, we are hopeful, anticipating the Christ who comes to us as a baby at Christmas and waiting for the Christ who will come again.
One of the Bible verses often read during the first week of Advent is Jeremiah 29:11, where we are assured of God’s plans for us, for our welfare, and the promise to give us a future with hope. Faithful hope is a constant and committed trust in God. We are called to share that hope with the world.
In Matthew 5:13-16, we are called to be the “salt of the earth,” urging us to keep our saltiness in order to bring good to the world, and to be “the light of the world,” letting the light of our faith shine in the world, bringing hope to a weary world. Let us be open to “God’s creative task” in each of us, guiding us to share this hope with all we meet.
Hope, in faith, reminds us that God is with us always, no matter the circumstances in which we find ourselves. God is with us and has promised to be with us now and in the future. God is with us, and that promise brings us peace in our faith.
As Jesus brings light to the darkness of the world, and salt is the faithful seasoning of God’s promises to the world, may we reflect on this hopeful promise throughout this Advent season. May our prayers and reflection be seasoned with this hope as we look forward to Christmas and our celebrations of the Christ child coming into our world. May our Advent waiting remind us of God’s promised return. May we hold fast to this hope!
Diane Brauer is a member of Community of Joy Lutheran Church, Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Diane currently serves on the board of the Rocky Mountain Synodical Organization. She is the current board president for Lutheran Campus Ministries of New Mexico.
1Alberto Taulé, text and music. Translated by Madelieni Forell Marshall.
Thank you for this meaningful gift as a reminder that our HOPE is in our Lord and Savior.