The Second Week of Advent
Advent has been celebrated by Christians since the 7th century A.D. As you recall, “Advent” from the Latin means “coming to.” Therefore, the Advent season would be understood as Jesus Christ (the Messiah) “coming to” the world.
As we celebrate Jesus Christ’s coming to the world, we embrace church tradition and focus upon “Hope” during the second Sunday of Advent. “Hope” in Scripture has two meanings: 1). a sense of eager anticipation or waiting, and 2). a sense of confident expectation based on certainty.
During the Old Testament period, the chosen people of God eagerly anticipated (hoped) the coming of the Messiah. Today, for Believers in Jesus Christ, our confident expectation based on certainty (hope) is in the Messiah’s return.
A Jewish carpenter, Joseph, also had hope for the coming of the Messiah. His hope was realized first in a dream from God….then in the newborn baby held in his callused hands.
Think back, for a moment, when you had the opportunity to hold a newborn child in your hands. If you were a parent, your world would change; mine did. Further, imagine you had waited all your life for this moment, this gift in the flesh, this baby, this infant whose destiny you did not fully understand but only marveled over.
As a dad, I can only imagine what was going through Joseph’s mind. Yet, in his hands, in a stable, he held Mary’s son, God’s Son, our future, the world’s only Hope. The truth is…..Joseph held my only hope for salvation and eternity for my kids, my family, and our future.
Heavy stuff for a dad and a young mom, chosen by God and spoken to by a Messenger of God.
I believe there was a song in 2011, the text written by Thomas Troeger and music by Dan Forrest. It is titled “The Hands that first held Mary’s child.” It portrays a picture of the birth of Christ from Joseph’s point of view. The lyrics are below, and a link to the song is here.
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The Hands that first held Mary’s child
The hands that first held Mary’s child were hard from working wood.
From boards they sawed and planed and filed and splinters they withstood.
This day, they gripped no steel tool, drove no iron nail,
and cradled from the head to heel, our Lord, newborn and frail.
When Joseph marveled at the size of that small breathing frame,
and gazed upon those bright new eyes and spoke the infant’s name,
the angel’s words he once had dreamed poured down from heaven’s height, and like the host of stars that beamed blessed earth with welcome light.
“This child shall be Emmanuel, not God upon the throne,
but God with us, Emmanuel, as close as blood and bone.”
The tiny form in Joseph’s palms confirmed what he had heard,
and hymns and psalms for heaven’s human word rose from his heart.
The tools that Joseph laid aside, a mob would later lift
and use with anger, fear, and pride to crucify God’s gift.
Let us, O Lord, hold the child born today
and be charged with faith. May we be bold enough to follow His way.
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When Christians celebrate Advent, we remember, celebrate, and offer our thanksgiving for what God has done in history for all of humanity. That God sent His only Son, through whom we might have the certainty of Hope for today, tomorrow, and eternity.
C.S. Lewis, author of The Chronicles of Narnia series and other works, writes, “…The birth of Christ is the central event in the earth’s history — the very thing the whole story (creation) has been about…”.
Something to consider…
And if you would allow me, an offered prayer for you.
Heavenly Father, during this Advent season, help us to reflect upon Your act in time and space, which gifted us with Your Son. Teach us to anchor our hope in all matters of life and family in Jesus Christ. We are grateful You hear our prayers and petitions and thankful for the eternal and everlasting Hope you offer us as we eagerly await your return. Amen
Respectfully Offered
Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone be The Glory)
LEO BT Chaplain B
