Finding Hope In Christmas
What is Advent?
I love Christmas time. Now, I might not be the one to put on Mariah Carey the moment November starts, but I do love Christmas. Growing up in New York City, our streets would sparkle with lights, and homes would glow with colorful displays. The chill in the air meant warm drinks like hot chocolate—or in my case, warm apple cider. For some of my Latino friends, it was coquito, a spiked eggnog that added extra cheer. But more than the festive drinks, and the Christmas parties, and special food, and presents, and hallmark movie mistletoes, Christmas is also the time where the church celebrates Advent.
In the church calendar, Advent covers the 4 weeks leading up to Christmas, where we celebrate the arrival of Jesus into the human story. That’s what “advent” literally means.
It means “arrival”. The church takes a month to reflect on the reality that Jesus broke onto the scene of human history and He essentially changed everything. The reason I love Christmas, and particularly Advent is because I love the realness of Advent. At the heart of Advent is yes, Jesus coming to earth, but it’s more specifically about the tension of living in a broken world full of ups and down and turn arounds while having the utmost hope in the long-awaited life that Jesus promises to those who follow Him. It’s the tension of what is and what is to come.
Advent allows us to be real with where we are today. Often we look forward to the
Christmas or holiday season because sometimes we just want relief from “real life”. We expect the Christmas season to be a time of joy and Starbucks specialty drinks. It’s a time of cuddling up with loved ones or breaking out your fall attire. December seems to carry a hope that leads us to New Years Eve where we’re convinced that whether or not we have a New Year’s Eve Kiss, the next year hopefully will be better than the year we leave behind. But if we’re being honest, that just leads to disappointment because no matter how amazing the Christmas time may be and how easily it allows you to forget the grit and realness of life, you have to pick up the weight of your life after you put away the last Christmas decoration and Mariah Carey goes back into hibernation.
But what if it was possible to experience all the hope, peace, joy, and love, that often accompanies the Christmas season, even in the midst of the messiness of life? Instead of living vicariously through Christmas movies, what if you could have hope, peace, joy, and love be a permanent part of your life? Would you want that? That question is paramount to the story of Advent.
God With Us
Now many of you may know the Christmas story, but one of the interesting things about
Jesus coming to earth is that He is given a special name. One of the most profound names given to Jesus is “Immanuel”, meaning "God with us." This title comes from the biblical account in Matthew 1:22-23: “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel (which means “God with us”). For the first hearers of this message—people facing hardship and uncertainty—this was a powerful declaration. It meant that God had not abandoned them.
Advent is about coming to terms with where you really are in this moment. Where do you find yourself today? Isn’t it striking that at Christmas we can feel so lonely even being with friends? We can feel like we don’t have enough because people accomplished more in 2024 so we’re going to try and lock in December so we can kill it in January? Isn’t it a surprise that no matter what new relationship you have, how successful you’ve been or how much you have, you’re still anxious about whether it will be enough for tomorrow? Or perhaps you’re just sitting in the deafening silence of hopelessness, anxiety, and sadness?
The words we just read breaks the silence and declares that God is no longer on His
way, but that instead, He is already here. Jesus says to us now, “I am Immanuel, God with You”. Jesus comes into our lives today, offering His presence in our struggles and hopes.
The Bigger Story
Advent is part of a much larger narrative. From the beginning of human history, brokenness has marked our world. Sin, suffering, and separation from God created a longing for redemption. Whether or not we realize it, we’re all yearning for a Savior. Jesus’ first coming fulfilled that longing. His life, death, and resurrection opened the way for restoration.
Jesus’ first Advent came 2000 years ago to a people desperate for life and freedom and Jesus comes to us today saying to those who do not know Him, I have come for you so that you too can have life and fullness. And for those of us that are following Jesus, Advent is a joyous reminder that the fullness of life in Jesus is ours. That His hope, love, joy, and peace is ours forevermore.
Looking Forward
Many of us will celebrate Christmas around tables this year and in the Gospel of John, we read about another table where Jesus says to His followers, that hard times will come, but that He will be with them every step of the way. May I kindly remind us that Christianity is not a promise that our difficulties will go away or that we will never have a hard time, but instead the Christian story is one that says that even in the midst of the mess, Jesus comes to us, draws us to Himself and guides us towards the fullness of life.
We can sit at our tables now, with the tension of whatever it is that we have experienced this year and Jesus offers you the hope that He is with you and can renew all that is broken. But what about the hope of what is to come? Advent is about Christ’s arrival, but Jesus promises another Advent, a better one. At Jesus’s second advent, there will never be the tension of what is and what will be. It just will always be good and full of life. Revelation 21:4 envisions this future: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Every heartache will be remedied. Every sickness will be cured. Every disappoint will find its satisfaction. Every tear will be wiped away.
This is the ultimate Advent—the final arrival we still await.
A Call to Reflection.
This Christmas season, take time to reflect on the true meaning of Advent. Amidst the busyness, remember that Jesus is Immanuel, God with us. His presence is not confined to a holiday but extends through every season of life. As you celebrate, may you find renewed hope and lasting peace in His promises. Just like that Christmas poem we all know says, “twas the night before Christmas”. This advent I can say, “Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night” because I know Jesus will make all things right.
