Sisters and Brothers,<\/p>\n
We have completed the liturgical cycle and are once again into Advent.<\/p>\n
We should not see this though, as \u2018back to the same old grind\u2019 because the very reason we mark the passage of time in such cycles is to remind ourselves of God\u2019s gracious activity in time- what God had done in the past, to give us every reason to hope in God\u2019s future.<\/p>\n
Advent is unmistakably the season of hope. While, as in Lent, we are called to focus on our need of repentance. There is a slightly different tone to this call. It is not just about more of individual personal self-surrender as we ponder the message of the cross and encourage ourselves on that journey where we give up in self-denial as we anticipate the Resurrection through which we claim victory in Christ.<\/p>\n
In this season, we ask ourselves whether we allow that victory to move us into deeper commitment visible through our participation in a way of life that anticipates the ultimate reign of God.<\/p>\n
Do we mean if when we pray in song,<\/p>\n
Kingdom of Christ for thy coming we pray.
\nHasten, O Father, the dawn of the day
\nWhen this new song thy creation shall sing
\nWrong shall be ended when Jesus is King.<\/p>\n
If we do, then we are expected to live into that future which Christ is leading us to. Our repentance must involve challenging lifestyles that don\u2019t align with this kingdom, especially when the lifestyle is ours.<\/p>\n
We can only inspire hope in others, that God\u2019s promise of a new day will be realised insofar as we ourselves are ready and willing to participate in the life of this new day. This is what active waiting<\/strong> is about. So, we don\u2019t wait for January to make resolutions about what and how we will change. We wait actively, that is, we work now with zeal doing what the Lord requires. We are zealous about it because we know that victory is guaranteed to those who wait upon the Lord.<\/p>\n Since we already know that God is never the loser, the Advent hope gives us confidence to pursue the tasks we know God wants us to do. We are not working for a moody mistress or master who will reward us if (s)he is in a good mood and abuse us if (s)he is having a bad day. We serve the Living, the faithful God of love who keeps promises- the One who has promised to be with us to the end of time, the One who gives us the assurance that there is grace enough for every trial that we face.<\/p>\n Whatever the difficulties we face in the present, we can find comfort in knowing that we are not alone. Yes, there are many tough issues confronting our world. In the current context of increasing nationalistic movements, the need for climate action sensitive to the integrity of God\u2019s creation, the growing need for safeguarding of vulnerable persons, the ongoing saga of poverty, and the ever-troubling presence of war., ours is the call to live, that those among whom we witness will find reason to trust in God\u2019s future.<\/p>\n Yours in God\u2019s service
\nJoan Delsol Meade, <\/strong>Your Pastor<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-2751","pastors_corner","type-pastors_corner","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hollandmethodistchurch.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pastors_corner\/2751","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hollandmethodistchurch.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pastors_corner"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hollandmethodistchurch.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/pastors_corner"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hollandmethodistchurch.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2751"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}