Lonely Exile: A Daily Advent Devotional

Part Four: What is Hope?

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.”
— Desmond Tutu

Read: Luke 1:26-33

Some days hope is hard to come by, isn’t it? In our current moment many of us are wondering how we can possibly manufacture some kind of hope that will get us through the uncertainty we face. The problem, I think, is we first need to understand what hope is, what it means, and then, perhaps, we might end up being surprised by what we find.

So, what is hope? Is it a kind of bypassing? Ignoring the reality of things and trying to find a little unfounded optimism isn’t what we mean by hope.

Is hope a kind of wishful thinking? Like throwing a penny in a fountain, wishing on a star, or blowing out birthday candles? Does hope just make a wish and cross its fingers?

Let’s begin here: Hope is grounded in a vision, in an imagination for what could be, for how the world could be.

When the angel Gabriel came to Mary his invitation to her was grounded in this kind of understanding of hope. As he describes who her son will be—David’s heir, the Messiah—he is reminding her of both the vision and the longing that Mary and her people had shared for as long as they could remember.

It was that vision that had carried them through Exile and oppression at the hands of one empire after the other. A vision of a world of peace and prosperity, justice and jubilee. That vision—that hope—was the bass note, the North Star that kept them moving forward in the worst of circumstances.

Advent is a good time to remind ourselves of our vision for what this world could be. It’s a good season to stubbornly recommit ourselves to, like Mary, playing our part in bringing that world into existence.

In the darkest, most difficult of days or moments may we remember that we are a people of hope and a people with a vision. May we allow that vision to guide us, transform us, and empower us in the work of making the world a better, more just place for all of God’s kids.

Questions for Reflection:

For what kind of world do you hope?
What, in your imagination, would a world of justice and peace look like?
What is something you can begin to do today to bring that world into reality?