A Hopeful Holiday | The Odyssey Online
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.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

198237
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

19670
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

461494
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

28647
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments