A Hopeful Holiday
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

A Hopeful Holiday

The eternal flame in the midst of times of darkness.

20
A Hopeful Holiday
everydaygrief.com

The season of Advent in the Christian year begins four Sundays before Christmas as a way to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. This special season is often celebrated in churches through the advent wreath consisting of a greenery wreath holding four candles (typically three purple and one pink or four purple) with a larger white candle on the inside. Each of the candles has a special meaning. The first candle to be lit on the first Sunday of Advent is a purple candle representing Hope.

Scripture Readings

Isaiah 7:14-16: ‘“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste. The Lord will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah - he will bring the king of Assyria.”’

Matthew 1:20-21: “But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save the people from their sins.”’

Luke 1:30-33: “But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”’

Message

Jesus’ birth gives us hope. In Isaiah 7:14-16, God speaks to Ahaz through the prophet Isaiah, and gives Ahaz hope that his present suffering due to the two evil kings is only temporary as God will send a baby who will grow up to lead and make all things well for Ahaz’s family. This Old Testament promise shows that God has a plan for all of us, so we can feel comforted in knowing that there is a time for everything, and that every time is for hope.

God’s promises extend beyond the Old Testament as God makes a promise to Joseph in Matthew 1:20-21 that Mary’s baby, conceived by the Holy Spirit, “will save the people from their sins.” What greater hope is there than that? The baby that Joseph was not certain he wanted is destined for greatness. He is the son of God. He has been sent as a gift of reconciliation in order to save the imperfect, sinful people from a fate worse than death. While there are yet to be instructions as to how this will work, Joseph’s faith allows him to believe in the hope that one day his baby son will save the world. Jesus is the epitome of hope.

Mary also needed to hear from God that her current struggle as a pregnant virgin, who no one believed, is all part of a greater plan. In Luke 1:30-33 the angel, Gabriel, comes to Mary and tells her of all that Jesus will accomplish. His opening phrase “Do not be afraid” is a reminder to all of us that even when it seems like all is falling apart, we still must hold on to hope that it will all be okay. Jesus is our hope even in the midst of our darkest moments, and young Mary embodies amazing faith through her hope in God and his plan. Mary is a model for the blind faith we all need to have.

During this season, prepare a place for Jesus in your heart with hope. Believe that He is there through every moment of your day; you are never alone thanks to the greatest gift God gave to us. With a God like that, and a savior like Jesus, what do we have to fear?

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

71427
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

133474
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments