Season of Advent: Hope, Day 4

Season of Advent

Hope, Day 4

Reading:

“…now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” [1]

Reflection:

Two traditional attributes of Advent are waiting and hoping. We wait expectantly for something we cannot see or explain. That sort of waiting requires patience and persistence. Why would anyone wait for anything they cannot see or understand? Why would we hope for anything that holds no promise of material gain or profit? Perhaps that is why we so easily get wrapped up (pun intended) in the tangible aspects of what Christmas has become – parties, presents, and decorations. Our physical senses can at least engage with those. We can show them off to friends and family.

            As the apostle Paul implies in his letter to the Romans, however, there is no hope in tangibility. We do not hope for what we already have or know. Hope stretches us beyond what is known and comfortable to that which is new, different, and transformative. It invites us to enter and explore the mysteries of life, knowing we will never fully comprehend them. And it invites that exploration with an expectation that what we hope for will be given, although not likely in ways we can imagine.

The spiritual mysteries of and deep questions surrounding Christmas abound with possibilities for expectant hope.

Closing Meditation:

If there were a single transformative insight you could receive this Christmas, what would it be?

Silently hold your desire for that insight. Journal the thoughts or feelings that arise.

This daily series, Contemplative Christmas, is replacing my weekly Life Notes until January 6, 2026, when my weekly blog will resume. The thoughts expressed here are mine. To engage with me: ghildenbrand@outlook.com.

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[1] Romans 8:24-25