Dear AGAC friends,
Welcome to a new liturgical year (Year A). As we step into a new lectionary year, we’re invited to see the world through Matthew’s eyes. Matthew has his own heartbeat, his own anxieties, his own hopes, his own vision of what it looks like for God to break into the world. Matthew is writing for a mixed community, Jewish followers of Jesus who fear losing the tradition that shaped them, and Gentile believers who are being grafted into that very story. The tension is real. In the light of what is currently happening in the world, we would be able to identify with that kind of tension.
Advent is ultimately a season of hope. In a world often darkened by despair, Advent reminds us that the light of Christ has already overcome the darkness. Having said that, it should be reminded that the word “hope” has a rich and important theological meaning. It is more than just saying, for example, “I hope I can get a pay raise,” or “I hope it will be a fine day tomorrow.” Christian hope is centred on God, on God’s kingdom, and on God’s promises even when all evidence points to the contrary.
And we begin the Advent journey with the theme of Hope. Let’s reflect on the unfailing promises of God. Despite the darkness we may face, we carry the light of Christ within us, a hope that will never fade. This week, I am inviting you to consider how we can live out this hope and share it with others, offering the light of Christ to those who are weary and in need of encouragement.
Hope in Christ,
Yukiko
