We have now entered the Christian season of Advent that is celebrated in Christian communities right throughout the world. The word “advent” comes from the Latin word adventus meaning “coming”. It is a season observed in many Christian churches, a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus.
For Christians, the season of Advent, serves as a reminder of the original waiting that was done by the Hebrew nation for the birth of their Messiah, as well as the waiting of Christians for Christ’s return to the earth. As I reflect on this period of waiting, I am reminded of the attribute of hope that forms part of the Mission of the Community of Christ which is to promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace.
I believe there is nothing more heart wrenching than to witness someone who has lost hope in their lives. We see people in this situation on our television sets, in war and famine tortured countries overseas. But we can also find these people in the towns and cities wherever we live. In the Penrith area of Sydney where the Open Door congregation is giving ministry, there are many people who are homeless and living rough. This year our congregation is partnering with the local housing agency to provide personal health items and food for distribution in “blessing bags” to these homeless people. The intent of this project is to give some assistance and hope to these people who are in need.
Years ago, when I was working in the Sydney CBD where I, with thousands of other people, witnessed a scene that touched our hearts. A teenage girl was sitting crossed legged on the pavement with head bowed in Martin Place. Beside her lay a bedroll and a few small possessions. In front of her lay a hat with several signs. She was begging for a few coins to keep her off the streets.
On several occasions, I witnessed old and young people kneeling beside the girl, with their hand on her shoulder, talking to her. In another incident, I saw an older lady talk to the girl, and then go across to a Salvation Army officer who stood in Martin Place asking for donations. I don’t know what happened after that, but she was back begging the next day.
A few years ago, you may have witnessed on the television show, A Current Affair, the story of Jan Sheedy. At her own expense for one week, Jan trained a group of young people who had been unemployed for lengthy periods. They had given up any hope of finding employment. Through her training, Jan gave these young people self-confidence and the ability and hope to make an impression on prospective employers. Many of these young people were quickly successful in picking up jobs.
It was amazing to see the change in the attitudes of these young people and the hope displayed in their very beings. The joy on the faces of their parents at their graduation was a sight to behold!
A psychologist asked three thousand people: “What have you to live for?” He was shocked to discover that 94% were simply enduring the present while they waited for the future … waited for something to happen … waited for next year … waited for a better time …waited for someone to die … waited for tomorrow, unable to see that all anyone has is today, because yesterday has gone and tomorrow exists out of hope. Without hope we achieve nothing.
It is remarkable the difference that can be made to your life if you have hope in your heart! The Psalmist David wrote in Psalm 146: 5 “Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord.” By placing our trust in the Lord, we will find hope to live as promised in Jeremiah 17:7 “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.”
And so, as we enter this season of Advent do you have hope in your heart for the future, for your own life, your family, the church, your country? Let’s take a lesson from those ancient Hebrews waiting for the birth of their Saviour in hope that they would be saved from the suffering they were enduring under the Roman domination. As followers of Christ, I pray that each of us may stive to be faithful witnesses in our daily living, to the hope we have for a peaceful future for mankind in God’s kingdom on earth.
Bill Gillard