Advent: Hope

Advent: Hope   A Jewish boy – a divine Son.

He comes. Immanuel, God with us.  

Waiting in Mary’s womb.

Immanuel.  

He would breathe earths air. He would walk this soil.

He would live – here.

Immanuel.  

He would speak as a prophet. He would instruct and learn out of His experience as human.

Obedience through suffering. Engraving a new covenant. A new way. His way. The way of love.

Immanuel.  

Priestly empathy. Listening. Healing. Embracing all.

Immanuel.  

Kingly humility. Righteous. Advocating for the oppressed, liberating the captives, speaking truth to the powers and principalities of the age, proclaiming his kingdom come and coming.

Immanuel.  

Prophet. Priest. King. Ever living as our divine intercessor at the Father’s right hand until we all see him face to face.

Immanuel.  

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the sanctuary beyond the veil, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever.” (Hebrews 6:19-20)  

Hope, this hope, anchored to something beyond. Bigger than ourselves. Beyond the temporal. Anchored deep into the very eternal presence of God himself.  A thin place. A liminal space. Sanctuary. Beyond the veil. And yet, here.

Immanuel.  

Every step from logos to flesh. From womb to air. From outside time and space to blood, sweat and tears.   Laughter. Weeping. Praying. Bleeding. Dying. Rising. Waiting. Returning. Hope.   Advent not only behind us, but before us. Come and coming.

Immanuel.