Abounding in Hope

Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-10  • Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19  • Romans 15:4-13  • Matthew 3:1-12

This week in the Advent season we read about a shoot growing out of an old stump, a righteous judge who will bring equity to the meek and poor. The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.

 The apostle Paul tells us we shall have hope by the steadfastness and encouragement of the scriptures. We are to welcome one another and rejoice, as Christ has welcomed us. Paul prays: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

When things seem hopeless, how can we have hope? How can we abound in hope?Consider The Rev. Janet Hunt's Abounding in Hope, and Steve Goodier's No Hopeless Situations.

You might say, I'm too old now, or too young, too weak, not knowledgeable enough, not good enough,or use some other excuse to miss what God is calling you to do. Citing today's gospel and John the Baptist, in New Life Stirring in an Old Stump, The Rev. Whitney Rice tells us "All the old condemnations of ourselves and others are to be chopped down and thrown away, making room for the new shoot of Jesse to grow up within us. That is how we prepare the way of the Lord. John the Baptist is not preaching a message of condemnation, but rather one of liberation, of freedom from the thick, choking overgrowth of sin that has trapped us in misery and hopelessness." It's never too late. There's always hope. Now is a good time to start.