A Reflection by Rev Roberto Ochoa, Iowa Nebraska South Dakota Conference Minister
Lighting the Candle of Hope
Today, we light the candle of Hope.
We think of Hope as anticipation of something future,
but in truth, Hope can be the incarnation of trust.
We trust in our Wonderful Counselor –
that when we seek guidance, we will find answers.
We trust that when we are exhausted,
our Emmanuel will send someone
to carry our burdens for a while.
We trust our Creator to renew our faith in community,
in the goodness of others,
and in the power of our empathy and action.
We trust in our Beloved God, that, when everything around us
seems too difficult, too broken, too devastating
for us to put to rights on our own,
Hope will appear, and we rush forward,
arms open wide to receive grace.
(by the Maria Mankin for First Sunday of Advent Year A – UCC Worship Ways –
https://www.ucc.org/worship-way/advent-1a-november-30/ )
Advent has arrived, that season of a mystical journey towards the wonder of God’s incarnated grace for humanity on Christmas. We light the candles of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love as we embrace in our faith, the Emmanuel…God Is With Us;
It makes so much sense that we begin with the candle of Hope this week when so much of the world seems to be in a state of hopelessness. Yet every year, we gather to reaffirm an eternal Hope…an everlasting Hope…no wonder the author of last Sunday’s Worship Ways’ Lighting the Candle of Hope states that “Hope can be the incarnation of trust.”
I like that image of Hope and Trust in a Divine which never leaves us…especially when we experience sorrow and pain. I like to believe that in those moments when we are most confused or in indescribable grief…a Presence exists for us to cling on to carry us through even when we ourselves feel we cannot.
For me, that is a sustaining type of hope which allows me to feel the joy of living in the grace of God’s love through Jesus Christ, even in times of trouble and anxiety. It has the power to soothe, calm my soul and allows me to breathe when I need it the most.
I love the Advent journey of anticipation that allows us to reflect what Christmas means beyond the gifts and merriment, it is the celebration of the One who continues to be among us, always…the Incarnation of Trust.
Bendiciones y Paz,
Rev Roberto