Renewing Hope During the Time of Advent

By Rev. Raymond Coffey

December 2006

For several reasons Advent is a time for the renewal of hope. It is the beginning of the church year. It is also a time of reflection at the end of the calendar year. In this sense we have the best of both worlds. It is of course the period in which we remember the historical birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem of Judea. And it is a time in which we focus on the significance of that birth and its theological meaning for our lives. It is this last aspect that I want us to call to mind as we celebrate the Advent and Christmas season.

It is essential that we remember that the purpose of Advent is not to imagine ourselves to be living at the time preceding Christ’s birth and so somehow pretend that we are waiting for him to be born. Neither is it a time for sentimental thoughts about baby Jesus or birthday parties for baby Jesus! Such thinking trivializes the meaning of Advent, even for children. The focus of the first half of the church’s liturgical calendar is on the historical events of redemption as revealed in  Jesus Christ. The emphasis is on his Birth, Death, Resurrection and Ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

It is at Advent that we remember the coming of Jesus Christ and its significance for us. The term Advent derives from the Latin advenire, “to come to.”  Advent focuses on the coming of the Lord to us. And during this season we focus on the ways – past, present and future – that the Lord comes to us. We specifically look to the past, the historical coming of Christ, in order to anticipate the future, the eschatological coming of Christ when he returns in glory. And it is here that we find hope renewed.

We often turn to the accounts of Matthew or Luke to understand the significance of the Jesus’ birth. Both are rich in their literary presentation as they draw upon themes and types from the Old Testament to elucidate the nativity of Jesus. Both gospel writers present different perspectives and record specific events that are not mentioned elsewhere, all of which serve their particular purpose in the overall narrative of the gospel. They both, however, write from a shared understanding of where the nation of Israel stood in history. And it is in this context that the birth of Jesus Christ brings hope not only to the nation but the nations of the world.

Israel as a people still live under the curse of the exile. Though they have returned to the land following a period of exile, the glory of the nation has not been restored. They live under Gentile dominion and have for over 400 years. God has not spoken through his prophets since the ministry of Malachi, the last of the Old Testament prophets. There is a yearning for redemption, for nothing less than the return of God to Zion as spoken by Isaiah and other prophets. This was announced as “good news” in Isaiah. The underlying significance of the birth of Jesus is found in this term.

The birth of Jesus is “good news” because in Christ, God is returning to Zion. This return will be accomplished by a new exodus as God, in the person of Jesus Christ, leads his people out of exile. In Christ a new covenant is established, and a new temple is built. In Christ the exile is over and the forgiveness of sins is accomplished. It is this good news, this gospel, that brings hope to the people of Israel and the peoples of the world. Bondage and captivity to sin and idolatry is broken in Christ. Led by the Holy Spirit in pilgrimage to the New Jerusalem, we look for the coming of Christ in glory and live in that sure and certain hope of his return. Advent proclaims this message to us.

This season is therefore characterized by joy, anticipation and desire. Away with the depression that so often accompanies this time. Away with false hopes and expectations that can never be realized. Away with the disappointments of life’s failures and sin’s dominion. This is not just some form of pie-in-the-sky thinking. Neither is it an escapist mentality.  We live in assurance of Christ’s return, of his coming to us. That is why we sing “O Come, O Come, Immanuel, and ransom captive Israel.” This is our prayer for the church now. We are expecting his return and live in light of that blessed hope.  Let us therefore focus our attention and hopes on this truth during our celebrations and gatherings. Only then can we experience the good news of Christ’s coming to us historically and the fullness of hope in his return.