2 Samuel 7: 21

"Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have wrought all this greatness. . ."
 
Reflection by Quinn G. Caldwell

Sometimes, you're hopeful because it's all you have left. Your options are exhausted, and all you can do is bow your head, cross your fingers, and hope. That ain't Advent.

Advent is hoping for a reason, and with a purpose. The reason: God has already wrought all this greatness. The purpose: So that you can get in on the action.

Here's why we hope: 2000 years ago, God entered the world and took on full humanity so that none of us would ever have to lose ours.

Here's why we hope: 54 years ago today, God entered the world in Rosa Parks, refused to move from her seat, and sparked a movement that continues to help people claim the fullness of their humanity to this day.

Here's why we hope: today is World AIDS Day. Today, God is entering the world in thousands upon thousands of healthcare professionals and activists and clergy and financial donors and educators and YOU, so that men in America's urban gay ghettos and women in Africa and children born to infected parents and everybody in between who lives with HIV or AIDS might live their full humanity, too.  Learn more and get in on the action at www.worldaidscampaign.org.

Sometimes, you hope because it's all you have left. In Advent, you hope because God has already wrought all this greatness, and because you know God well enough to expect more.

Prayer

God, grant me the gift of hope in your future, and grant that I might be in on the action of building it. Amen.

About the Author Quinn G. Caldwell is Associate Minister of Old South Church in Boston, Massachusetts, and co-editor, with Curtis J. Preston, of the Unofficial Handbook of the United Church of Christ,published by The Pilgrim Press.

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