Advent is a time of Hope as we look forward to Christmas. The quotation, “the Lord is the one in whom we hoped” is a line from the prophet Isaiah (Is. 25:9). It is the Word of God from the Old Testament, from the past, of the Chosen People who had come to trust God, whom they called Yahweh.
Our theme, therefore, is “the Lord is the one in whom we hoped”. The word ‘hoped’ indicates past tense, which highlights how God had been with the Chosen People, our ancestors in faith. As God fulfilled the promise of sending his Son, Jesus among us, therefore, we too are offered hope now, as we celebrate the Birthday of Baby Jesus at Christmas, our hope into the future.
The Chosen People had come to rely on Yahweh who had been with them through difficult situations, wars, destruction, exile and the return from exile. They gave thanks to God in the past and they were looking forward to God continuing to be with them into the future. We are part of that future.
“the Lord is the one in whom we hoped” is an expression for us of the hope of being in the company of God forever, of being part of a banquet with God, in this life and beyond this life, eternal life. It offers us hope beyond our mere ability to endure whatever we are going through now, a hope that helps us to keep on going.
In Advent we yearn to hope that God continues to be with us, knowing that God has been with us in the past and so we trust that God is close to us now. We are preparing in this Advent season for how Jesus has come among us in a special way at Christmas as a little baby and to be the presence of God with us right into the future. Indeed, a hope that sustains us now, is the hope that we can be fully alive in God’s company forever.
During this Christmas time we pray that we may be renewed by the promise of the company of God, through the presence of his Son Jesus among us, in our daily lives and into eternal life. Our prayer is that we may be sustained in faith by the gift of God’s love, its joy, so that we remain full of hope for the future. May we wish you a Christmas of love, joy and hope to carry you through the New Year of 2025.
Bishop Ferran Glenfield, Bishop of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh & Clonmacnoise.
Bishop Martin Hayes, Bishop of Kilmore.