12 And again, Isaiah says,
“The Root of Jesse will spring up,
one who will arise to rule over the nations;
in him the Gentiles will hope.”
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
This same Hope can be alive and well in our everyday lives. We need this Hope to keep us from turning to despair as we look at the conditions in our world. It is this Hope that allows to live free from the crippling fears of attack, sickness, or want. It is this Hope that nourishes us and sustains us each and every day of our lives. We have the right to live in hope for the future; the futures of our children and grandchildren, our families, our communities, and our world. God has gifted us with everything we need to live in Hope and has given His Son as the ultimate gift of Hope.
This morning in churches all over the world the candle of Hope was lit. As that flame burned bright in the sanctuary, let us be reminded that we are also the sanctuary of our LORD. As we leave the Thanksgiving holiday and get back to our routines let us be reminded that we are called to be reflectors of the light of Hope to all we encounter this week. The world is in serious need of some Hope. Let's share the Advent of Hope this week.