Not, love or joy or peace. Hope. The first candle of Advent is hope and this could not be a more appropriate way to start a season of anticipation. Maybe because I’ve seen Catching Fire twice or because It’s a Wonderful Life is one of my favorite movies but Hope is really resonating with me this week. Things may be really bleak and dark but as long as we have that little glimmer of hope then we are able to carry on.
Leading up to December the adult Sunday school class at our church did a study of the Beatitudes. If ever the Christian faith needed a rally cry it should be these words, not the ten commandments. Those are just fine and dandy as a ground work for right and wrong. The Commandments are a no-brainer for anyone with a normally functioning moral compass. No, no, no, yes, yes, no, no, no, no, no. Done.
But the Beatitudes challenge us to rage against everything culture has taught us. Greed, dominance, extravagance, power. The Beatitudes also allow us to just be. The world tells us that we need to be happy all the time and if we’re not something is wrong. Blessed are those that mourn, that are poor in spirit. Guess what? It’s okay to mourn. It’s okay if your heart is sad. It’s okay to seek the goodness in people even when the world wants us to pass them by. It’s okay to want peace when the world wants dominance. It’s okay to stand up for what you believe in.
There is no better time to just be than the season of Advent. While we wait for God’s greatest gift it’s okay to be broken, to be merciful, to seek peace and hunger for justice. Hope tells us that no matter how dark or broken we are there is light in us. Hope allows us to seek out that light because we know how this story ends. Christ with us.
another jennifer
Such a beautiful post, Stephanie. It fills me with hope. I think it’s so important to not lose sight of what this season is really about. Thanks for the reminder!
Stephanie Clinton
Thanks. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season. Taking time to focus on each candle brings things back into focus.
Chris Carter
I just gave out the biggest exhale…. and then I did that deep inhale….closed my eyes and took it all in. Every word that I read… covered my heart and opened my mind with Hope.
I absolutely LOVE this post, Stephanie. I totally agree that the Beatitudes are many of God’s greatest lessons in faith. You said it just perfectly…
Oh how I hope you do each advent week!!!!! I will surely be waiting for today’s… 🙂
Stephanie Clinton
Thank you for your kind words. Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale…sometimes we need to really need to stop and breath in what Christ has to show us.
The Second Candle of Advent is Peace - Hugs, Kisses and Snot
[…] is just so much to do and so much pressure to get it done in such a short amount of time. Hope I can do but peace is hard to find. The second Sunday of Advent rolled around and I started […]