Episode 1682 Advent Week 1 - Hope

The traditional Catholic theme for the first week of Advent is hope. This theme is all about looking forward with anticipation and excitement to the coming of Christ, the Messiah, as promised by the prophets. It's a time to reflect on the darkness and despair that can fill the world, but also to hold onto the belief that something good is coming, that light will overcome darkness.

Here are some ways that hope is expressed during the first week of Advent:

Lighting the first Advent candle: This candle is often purple, symbolizing royalty and hope. It's a tangible reminder that the wait is almost over, that the light of Christ is drawing near.

Advent candle
Readings from Scripture: Passages like Isaiah 11:1-10, which speaks of a shoot blossoming from a stump, a symbol of new life and hope emerging from what seems dead and barren. These readings remind us that even in the darkest times, God is faithful and his promises will be fulfilled.
So let me read it to you
And there shall shoot up a twig from the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise up from his roots:

2. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and of piety.

3. And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge according to the sight of the eyes, nor reprove according to the hearing of the ears.

4. But he shall judge the poor with justice, and shall reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.

5. And justice shall be the girdle of his loins: and faith the covering of his reins.

6. The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid: and the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling together shall be, and a little child shall lead them.

7. The cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

8. And a sucking child shall put his hand on the hole of the asp, and in the den of the basilisk the weaned child shall put his finger.

9. They shall not hurt nor kill in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

10. And in that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand for an ensign of the people, shall be sought by the Gentiles: and his rest shall be glorious.

This passage from Isaiah 11 paints a great picture of a future kingdom ruled by a just and righteous king. This king, descended from the lineage of Jesse, will be filled with the Spirit of the Lord and will judge with wisdom and understanding. He will bring peace and harmony to the world, even reconciling animals that are traditionally enemies. The passage ends with a promise of a time when the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord.
Prayers and hymns: These focus on themes of expectation, waiting, and trust in God's plan. Songs like "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" and "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence" capture the longing and anticipation of this season.

Acts of charity and kindness: Reaching out to those in need, spreading joy and love, these actions embody the hope for a better world that Christ's birth brings. They're a way of saying, "We believe that things can be different, and we're going to do our part to make it happen."
So, as you enter the first week of Advent, let your heart be filled with hope. Let it be a beacon that guides you through the darkness, a reminder that even in the midst of challenges, there is always something to look forward to. Remember, the light is coming.