First Sunday of Advent: Hope

The celebration of Advent is steeped with theology, tradition and symbolism. Participating in Advent rituals connect us to God and to a rich history, asking us to take seriously the reason behind the season. You’ll notice that the Advent wreath is round, signifying God’s eternal qualities and also God’s eternal love, and the purple candle of hope represents both royalty (the coming of the Prince of Peace) and asks us to prepare our hearts for Christ’s coming.

Why is hope the first Sunday in Advent?

According to tradition, the first candle we light on the Advent wreath is the “Prophecy Candle,” which points us back into history to the Old Testament prophets who foretold the coming of the Messiah. (1) The lighting of this candle marks the beginning of the season as we both look back to what was foretold and anticipate what is to come. During Advent many Christians anticipate Christ’s birth and Christ’s second coming when he will come again to set things right. This kind of hope, a hope that someday believers will be safe and surrounded by goodness, can help us manage ourselves within a world fraught with problems and suffering. Believers and non-believers can benefit by reflecting on what gives them hope during Advent.

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” – Isaiah 9:6

The Weeks of Advent

The Sundays of Advent have powerful themes for reflection. They are aspirational and operational. We can choose to hope and practice hope by looking at what we believe and also grounding in the present. Hope provides agency to move our lives in ways that can make things better, not only for us, but for others. In the same way throughout Advent, we can become more peaceful for our sake and for the sake of others. We can practice and offer joy, and we can learn to understand ourselves as beloved so we can become better at offering love to others. Each week of Advent provides an opportunity to engage these themes in our prayers, practices, and daily lives.

How can psychology help us to understand hope?

From a psychological point of view, hope comes from a story you tell yourself about something that hasn’t happened yet. Hope is an expectation of fulfillment or success, and our beliefs about God, the world, and ourselves can fuel a sense of agency that we can do something to make a difference. Having a hopeful, realistic, and not overly optimistic mindset is good for physical and mental health and brain function. Hope helps us cope when we face challenges and difficult circumstances.

Reflecting on hope during Advent – one man’s story.

I asked my 88 year old father what he was hoping for during Advent. He told me that as a person of faith nearing the end of his life, the thought of an afterlife gives him hope, not just for him, but for the peace it might provide his family after he goes.

Reflecting, my dad told me that he has been profoundly blessed in this life. He said that he grew up with people who were as smart as he was, but they didn’t “make it” like he did. My dad believes that Someone was looking after him. Hard work and honesty played a big role in his successes, but even then, he can’t explain the quality of his life in any other way than that he’s had a blessed existence.

He told me, “I have an expanded family that I am absolutely proud of, I have friends that I enjoy, I like a good worshipful service wherever I am. Life is full of joy for me. I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s hard to imagine anyone who has had it better than I have.” My dad acknowledged, “There have been rough spots along the way, “ but his life has been full and blessed with love.

Hope should spur us into action.

My dad’s story is instructive. He has always believed in God and that belief fueled him to actively engage in making this world a better place. He studied, became a doctor, was an important figure in his church and community, and he cared for (both emotionally and financially) his biological family as well as his step-family. He didn’t let failures or disappointments keep him from moving forward into his purposes and values. He served God by living into his potential, not just for himself, for others as well.

A common issue for Christians who focus too much on hope in the afterlife – rather than hope in the current embodied life – is that it can leave people waiting rather than acting. Agentic hope is the belief that our actions can make good things happen. We have a role to play in this life that goes beyond anticipating. Agentic hope brings us into the current moment where our belief in the good things to come urges us to engage in the process of making good things happen now.

Reflection: Advent Hope

- What are you hoping for this Advent season?
- What beliefs support your hopes?
- What actions do you need to take today to live into your hopes?
- How can you provide hope to others?