Why should I hope in the Lord any longer?—2 Kings 7:1b

HOPE

First Week of Advent 2013
Sunday December 1, 2013

 Read: Isaiah 2:1-5 

In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains,…‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
                                                                                                                                              —Isaiah 2:2-3 

  • The 2012 poverty rate in Oklahoma was 16.3% compared to the nation as a whole at 14.3% (US Census Bureau). It is estimated that 1 out of 4 children living in Oklahoma have insufficient food.
  •  Oklahoma housed 648 inmates serving sentences per 100,000 residents in 2012, up from 632 in 2011. There were 127 female prisoners in 2012 for every 100,000 female residents, the highest incarceration rate for females in the country. (www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/28/states-prison-rates_n_3667046.html)
  •  In 2010, there were 1 million unauthorized immigrants under age 18 in the U.S.  (http://www.pewhispanic.org/2013/01/29/a-nation-of-immigrants/) Many young adults who were brought as infants by their parents to the USA without the proper documents have never known any other way of life but as residents of this country. Yet they face uncertain futures without legal permission to be here.
  • 99.3% of the 392 students at the elementary school located a few blocks from my church qualify for free or reduced lunches. Their average grade point for 2012 was 1.32, a D. Its score on the controversial A-F Report Card was and F in 2013. http://afreportcards.ok.gov/
  • Average sea temperatures are rising at a rate of 0.13°F per decade from 1901 through 2012 (www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/indicators/) resulting in rising sea levels and stronger storms. The May 20, 2013 Moore, Oklahoma tornado had a path length of approximately 14 miles and was on the ground for approximately 40 minutes. The preliminary maximum path width is 1.1 miles. (http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/?n=events-20130520)

 Advent is a time of waiting for the coming of a promised Savior. It can be scary in such a time as this. We do not know what is out there beyond our vision, beyond our reach. The problems that surround us are real and complex. Will the Savior really come?

The Psalmist calls us to lift our eyes to the mountains, to expand our line of vision, and to try to see s bit as God sees.  There lies hope. After all God breathed the breath of life into each of us. God heard the cries of his people in Egypt and led them out of bondage. God also sent prophets to alert us and teachers to instruct us but we paid them little heed. Are we ready to pay attention now?

Receive the gift of hope this Advent. The Savior is coming, has come, and will come again. Listen, see, hear, feel, and taste that God is indeed good and brings you the gift of hope this Advent.

Prayer:  Lift our eyes to the hills so we might experience hope through a glimpse of your vision, O God.  Amen.

All scripture passages are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version.