Just imagine the joy the people of Israel must have experienced when the prophet Isaiah told them that a new day was dawning.  A day when the deaf shall hear and the blind shall see and the tyrant will be gone and the arrogant be no more.  Now, the Israelites in spite of their long standing despair, had something to look forward to, something better was ahead of them, they now had hope.

What do you hope for?  For many of us I suspect the litany would likely include good health, wealth and happiness.  Maybe your hope is to finally lose a few pounds and get back in shape or that your friend’s cancer would go into remission, that you have a few less bills to pay each month or that you can be a better friend or spouse to those you love.  All are certainly valid but should not our number one hope and prayer be that we have a better, deeper relationship with Christ and that our faith will continue to grow stronger each and every day? 

As we begin to settle into the joy filled season of Advent and prepare to welcome Jesus back into our lives, let’s find a quiet time to pray each day; and when we pray let’s not only reflect on who we are and how we treated others but, better yet, start our prayers with a request that God, first and foremost help to strengthen our faith and understanding in the power of his love for us.  Then we can truly share in the joy that is found in this Advent season and in the hope of Christ’s Second Coming. And then, we too like the Israelites, shall experience a day when the deaf shall hear and the blind shall see and the tyrant will be gone and the arrogant be no more.  Merry Christmas.