Keeping the Faith in Hope

 https://lectionarypage.net/YearA_RCL/Advent/AAdv4_RCL.html 

Keeping the faith is a part of hope. Jane Goodall thinks it is something which is different, but if we don't have faith we can't look at hope. It is apparent in today's readings. This is why the link is above, we are looking at them all.

King Ahaz has lost faith in hope, or least lost faith there is a time to hope. He believes only in his own strength. This is why when the prophet Isaiah says to ask for a sign from God, he doesn't have hope that there is faith enough. He puts it as though he is putting God to a test and won't ask, but he won't ask because he doesn't believe there is a higher power than he is to answer. 

Fragile hope is like this. We have to put our faith of hope in something greater than ourselves. We have to recognize we aren't the ones in charge or control. Hope can only grow out of the seed of recognizing we aren't the end and be all. We are dependent on something greater than ourselves to go boldly into hoping. 

It is as the Psalmist puts into words today. They are looking for restoration because they are not in the place they once were. To put into words that they have been given bowls of tears, and their hope is in being restored once more to what they were. They have faith God will hear the prayer and act. They have kept faith that God will not turn from them forever. Nor that this hard time will last forever. They have a faith hoped for in recognizing this circumstance is not in their control, only in surrendering to this do they find the faith of hope planted.

Paul greets those he is writing to with how faith became incarnate. Where it was born into this world, then once again resurrected from the dead. This faith of hope now lives on in greeting the saints of Rome. Greeting them with faith in what should be unlikely, but was shown to be where hope sprung forth once again. 

Lastly we have our gospel of Matthew reading and the story of Joseph. One which gives up hope at first because Mary is pregnant and it is not by him. He doesn't want to publicly humiliate her, but wants to do things which are best for her and her family. Then comes the dream. Dreams are funny things, sometimes they speak to us in our fear and calm them and other times they scare us with our own fears we don't dare to face. In this Joseph is reassured from his fears. There is something greater going on in God's realm. He has the faith to take this on and hope is born anew into this family because he cared.

Faith and hope go hand in hand. If we don't keep and tend faith we loose hope. This weary world need more faith filled people to not become discouraged by all the trials we see going on. We are meant to keep the faith and make sure hope is born. Yes, love came down at Christmas and inspired the hope of all.