1Thessalonians 4:14 “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so they also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.”

The four-week season of Advent is dedicated to reflective preparation for the arrival, or “advent”, of Jesus Christ's nativity at Christmas time. Today’s Scripture reminds us that it also points to the hope for Christ's expected return in the “Second Coming”. Although in the Greek culture of Thessalonica most did not believe in resurrection, Paul taught the new Christians there, that they could celebrate not only Christ’s birth in the manger in Bethlehem, but his second coming to the world, where the “dead in Christ and the living will be caught up in the clouds together to meet the Lord and be with the Lord forever.””

During this important season on the church calendar, each week of Advent focuses on a single theme—hope, peace, joy, and love—in anticipation of Jesus’ arrival. The celebration of Advent is possible to each of us whose souls are troubled, and those of us who know ourselves to be poor and imperfect. It gives us hope to anticipate and look forward to something greater to come.

That would also seem to suggest that there is hope despite all the troubling events happening in the world around us. We must take hope from the words and messages in this season of Advent. It is up to all of us to provide an environment of love and support for our parish and community. We should focus on providing an environment of welcome and inclusion. We must, as our banner suggests, be a “Community for Hope”.

Paula Copley