At lunch with friends shortly after the Cubs made their early exit from the playoffs, one of our company began to chide me about my beloved Chicago baseball team. Not only have the Cubs not won a World Series since 1908, but this year, after showing some promise, they were dismissed by the Arizona Diamondbacks in a three game sweep. My reply was that being a Cubs’ fan is really a theological exercise, an exercise in hope. I then reminded them of the words of St. Paul, which are the mantra of all faithful who bleed “Cubbie Blue:” “Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” So, you now understand that “Wait until next year,” is really a theological affirmation!

Now for a transition to the approach of Advent which is the season of hope. Someone once asked me what business I thought the church was in. I answered “I believe the church is in the hope business.” I still believe that. I also believe that the season of Advent expresses that truth in wonderfully exciting and transforming ways. Even the culture around us seems to be preparing for something. There is an aroma of hope in the air as we move through these days to Christmas. But the culture around us will, as it always does, miss the point. If you think the hope of Cubs fans is misplaced, you need to check out what is going on in our culture. Cultural hope is something our culture begins to manufacture this time of year. Sentimental looks back to a more gentle time, advertising that promises joy and peace with the perfect gift, encouragement to live at a frantic pace, doing things that hold out some elusive promise to make everything better, are among the products of the culture’s “hope machine.” The problem is that such hope has no object. It is a hope in hope, a futile and hollow exercise.

The hope of Advent is grounded in the promise of our God. In various places in the First Testament, God promises to visit his people to bring the gift of salvation. Such is the object of the Advent Promise. Advent celebrates God’s promise and how that promise is fulfilled in the birth of Christ Jesus and how it will be brought to its completion when Christ Jesus returns at the end of time. There are always these three dimensions of the Advent hope---a celebration of God’s coming in Bethlehem, a celebration of God’s coming to us now, and a celebration of God’s promise to come again. Each visit rejoices in the power of God’s gracious love to set us free, to heal our brokenness, and bring peace to the whole created order.

I believe there is a hunger for hope deep in our spirits. This is a hunger consumerism cannot satisfy, materialism cannot fill, and self indulgence cannot gratify. For the hope for which long is a hope for a wholeness and peace, a freedom and joy, an acceptance and belonging that only the grace of God can give.

As you see the signs and lights of the season, I pray that you will know the hope to which they point, the hope that comes in the Advent of our God in Christ Jesus. May your journey through these days of Advent being a time when hope is birthed in your life. Happy Advent!

JMW