Entering Advent with Hope
Advent is here. It starts today, the 1st Sunday of Advent. In the Northern hemisphere Advent always comes at a gloomy time of year, but for Christians this is the start of the Christian Year, a time for new beginnings as we hear again the Bible stories and prophecies about light coming into darkness, hope for those who wait in despair. In spite of all that has happened so far in 2016 that may increase a sense of gloom, pessimism or fear, how can we enter Advent with hope? In an age that some people are labelling 'post-truth' what is the truth that can bring hope where there seems little hope? What truth can bring hope against hope? What truth brings hope for all people? Daniel Berrigan (who died this year) gave an answer in his book Testimony: the Word made Flesh: "It is not true that creation and the human family are doomed to destruction and loss -- This is true: For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes ...