Advent 2A, December 5, 2004

Isaiah 11: 1 - 10; Psalm 72; Romans 15: 4 - 13 4; St. Matthew 3: 1 - 12

From the Epistle, "For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. . . . 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."

Hope is a New Testament word. Pagan philosophers ancient and modern don’t have much hope. Aristotle called hope "a walking dream." Cicero said, "While there’s life, there’s hope," meaning that with death is the end of hope. Dante’s Inferno has "All hope abandon who enter here." Benjamin Franklin said, "he who lives on hope will die fasting." In recent time A.E. Houseman wrote, "Hope lies to mortals, And most believe her, But man’s deceiver, was never mine."

Long-term hope comes in relationship with a person. As we read and study the Bible we experience God’s self revelation. God made us, and made us for fellowship with him. He wants us to know him as he revealed himself in his word to Abraham, and revealed himself in his word to Moses, and revealed himself in his word incarnate, Jesus our Lord.

God is the author and source of our hope. He is goal and direction of our hope. He gives us the gift of hope because he is the God of hope. We are confident in his continuing love, protection, and guidance. We are finally buried "in sure and certain hope" of the resurrection because Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead to give us the assurance of "sure and certain hope."

We have that hope "by steadfastness and encouragement of the scriptures."

Steadfastness includes patient endurance. By God’s grace we can be patient with ourselves and patient with God, we can "hang in there" with God in hard times and good times, confident in his love, encouraged by his Holy Spirit.

Isaiah prophesied, "A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD . . . with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth." The shoot of Jesse is our Lord Jesus Christ, our hope of salvation. In his name and for his sake we proclaim his wisdom and understanding and seek in all our judgments his righteousness and equity.

John the Baptist came proclaiming, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." The rule of Jesus Christ in every heart who will receive him is the reality of the kingdom of God. As we repent of our sins and misjudgments and open our minds and hearts to the wisdom and love of the Lord, we are encouraged in hope in him.

"For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. . . . 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."