We live in a culture that is awash is discouragement.  Last night a party conversation went downhill after the words “post Christian era” were mentioned. One person noted that moral values in politics, business and public institutions do not reflect respected Christian values that anchored us fifty years ago. Hillary of Poitiers in the 4th century issued a simple challenge, ” Christians, where is your hope?”  As we enter a new year, the question is timeless and so is the answer.  In the empty tomb of Christ who won the victory over sin for each of us, we find our hope.  Let us embrace our hope anew in the person of Christ.

We all approach the December 25th celebration with different levels of expectation.  Our hopes at Christmas are always conditioned by past experiences. But what if you had no expectations and were totally surprised? In Matthew 1:20 Joseph is informed by an angel that Mary will bear the long awaited Savior of Isaiah 7:14  What astounding and unexpected news!  We are too familiar with this announcement.  It would be good for all of us to step back and spend some time reflecting on what Joseph might have thought. Away from all the pandemonium of the season, his experience and response needs to be revisited.  In silence let us reflect on this good news afresh.

Having grown up as a baby boomer, I have become accustomed to yearning for things on a grand scale.  I am drawn to large fireworks displays or Super Bowl events or parades down 5th Ave in the “Big Apple” of New York City.  But recently I have been noticing small things.  I am finding God in an unexpected “thank you” or or a small gesture of kindness or an unexpected coincidence where I run into someone I really wanted to talk to.  To see God in little things that formerly went unnoticed is a new twist for me. But, as Micah foretold it, “But you, Bethlehem…though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will be a ruler over Israel…” {Micah 5:2}  Be open to the small events of daily life.  They are God’s drawing near to us too!

“You who bring glad tidings to Zion…lift up your voice with a should…do not be afraid.”(Is 40:9)  For many of us, any good news is a bit suspicious. Is it really good? What’s the catch?  I gloss over this verse and inwardly dismiss it as too good to be true.  But can God disappoint?  Are his promises for real?  This Advent, may our hearts be healed of cynicism and layers of cautious faith.  The glad tidings are for real and unalloyed. As a child’s eyes sparkle with wonder, may our adult hearts recapture the gladness of God’s coming to each of us.

Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.  How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.”   John 14:9

This year I have been impressed by the reality that Jesus came to show us the Father’s heart…  our Father’s heart!  He never did his own will, but only his Father’s.  All we have to do is look at Jesus (who incarnates perfect theology) and we too can see the Father at work – opening blind eyes, raising the dead, washing feet, drawing in the sand, blessing grubby children, calling short tax collectors out of trees, receiving the stripes by which we are healed – what amazing news.  How did I miss seeing the Father for so long?  God have I missed Him.