Here is our hope. Although all sorts of cosmic events and suffering take place in our world, Jesus assures us that God is at work and that we “will see the Son of man coming.” We can “stand erect” and “hold our heads high” because we are assured that we will not be abandoned. Our “liberation is close at hand.” God is at work, and we can simply keep our eyes on God at all times and trust.
We cannot earn eternal life! It is all God’s gift! We have come from God and are all invited to return to God, but we have the freedom to choose this. In this earthly life, we learn about love and God. God is love and has, in overflowing love, created each of us and all the natural world. In love, Christ comes in human form into this natural world so that we can recognise that God is not distant. God is present in the world!
We “stand erect” and “hold our heads high” not because we are proud or in control but because God is always there for us. We do not drop our heads in despair. Let us lift them, open our eyes, hands and hearts in humility and recognise that God is present and active in our lives and longs for a relationship with us.
The baby Jesus is vulnerable and dependent. He needs to learn about
his journey, mission, and the presence of the Holy One in his life, just as we do. Jesus says that when we see “the signs” in the world, then we are to “stand erect,” “hold your heads high”, and know that help is on the way. Our God, our redemption, healing, joy, peace and hope, has drawn near. Let the signs in this Advent be signs of hope and reassurance. May they point to the one who has and who is still coming. Let us be confident that God is present, involved, and at work! We can let go of
our fears and trust that we will “see the Son of man” and “our liberation is at hand”.
Will I trust that God is at work in each moment, in each event in my everyday life? And that God who is love seeks only to love and to be loved?
Will I trust that God invites me into a close relationship in this life and to union with our Triune God as we step across to the other side of death?
Reflections by Kath Knowles
