This Sunday, we begin our Advent series, "Oh, That You Would Reveal Your Mystery." It is the first Sunday of Advent and thus we reflect together upon the revelation of God's hope. In the midst of personal and even national times of despair, we may find ourselves crying out to the Lord to reveal his hope.
To consider this more deeply, we dwell with the story of Zechariah from Luke 1:5-25. Zechariah and Elizabeth were on in their years and remained without child. In the midst of this reality, they likely had little or no hope for an heir. But it is in the midst of this realtiy that an angel of the Lord brought a proclamation of hope to this elderly priest. The angel revealed hope to them.
It was hope for this couple but it was also hope for Israel. The angel proclaimed that the baby to be born will be named John and he will bring people back to God. In essence, John will proclaim and he will begin God's plan of restoration. God's hope for the world will come about through God's restoration of that which is not as it could or should be. The reality that we know is not the reality that we are held captive to.
The Psalmist on behalf of the people also calls upon God to restore His people in Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19. He repeats the refrain, the prayer...
"Restore us, O God;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved."
It is a prayer for restoration that is made in the hope that God will bring it about.
May that be our prayer as well. May we also experience God's revelation of hope through our prayers for and experiences of restoration. May God bring about in our midst what only the power of God can do, restore all things. This is our hope. May God reveal it in our midst. Amen.
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