From Lament to Hope

This is the first Sunday in Advent, and our scripture is from Isaiah’s words to people who had great reason to feel that God had abandoned them. The prophet describes a God who had done awesome deeds in the past, but then God’s abandonment had given rise to the people’s abandonment of God. The prophet speaks of repentance, a turning around of the people, and a cry out to God to return with all of the mighty presence and works God had exhibited in the past. On the people’s side, besides repenting they are to wait in hope, in the deep hope and faith that God stands beside them and will return. This is the waiting in hope represented by Advent. If we as individuals or as groups feel abandoned, it is okay for us to cry out for God to reappear and then to wait with hope for that reappearance.