Hope through Justice

I am sharing what I wrote for our church's Advent devotion booklet.  Advent is the season that precedes Christmas in the Christian calendar.

On the first Sunday of Advent we light the candle of Hope.  We remember how the Hebrew people awaited the arrival of the Messiah.  They longed and hoped for the anointed one who would bring them to a time of justice and peace.

When Jesus was beginning his ministry, he returned to his hometown of Nazareth.  At the synagogue he stood up and read from Isaiah and afterwards told those present that the scripture had been fulfilled in him.

                “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

                                because he has anointed me

                                to bring good news to the poor.

                He has sent me to proclaim

                                release to the captives

                                and recovery of sight to the blind,

                                to let the oppressed go free,

                to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”    

                                                                (Luke 4:18-19)

Jesus brought hope to those who needed it the most.

Over Labor Day weekend I had the opportunity to attend the very first Western Methodist Justice Movement retreat at Lake Tahoe called “Stepping Out in Faith.”  I met Methodists from all over the West who are passionate about justice.  We had workshops and discussions on indigenous peoples, women’s reproductive rights, ministry to LGBTQ people, global economics, disabilities, cultural approaches to death, racism and heterosexism, mental health, immigration, and more.  How do we as Christians, and specifically United Methodists, respond to these issues?  We discussed ways we can step out in faith to work for justice.

The speakers at the conference were inspiring.  One statement particularly stood out for me.  “Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all they have.”  It reminds me of another quote from Harvey Milk.  “The only thing they have to look forward to is hope.  And you have to give them hope.  Hope for a better world, hope for a better tomorrow. . .  Hope that all will be all right.  Without hope, not only gays, but the blacks, the seniors, the handicapped, the us’es, the us’es will give up.”

As followers of Jesus, we spread the word of God’s love for all people.  We can give them the gift of hope by working for justice, following in Jesus’ footsteps.

Holy God, as we begin this season of Advent, we thank you for your gift of your son, Jesus, who brought hope to a hurting world.  Help us to be like him by bringing love and hope to all your people.  Amen.