Hope and Goodness - Advent Week One

Sunday, Nov 20:  Psalm 33:22 – Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.

Question to ponder:  How does God’s steadfast love relate to wanting the best for others?

Monday, Nov 21  1 Peter 1:13  A Call to Holy Living -- Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed

Question of the day:  What actions can we take to reflect the grace Jesus has brought us to give hope to others?

Tuesday, Nov 22:  Ephesians 1:18 – so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may perceive what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints

Question of the day:  How do “the eyes of your heart” see the hope we have in Jesus?

Wednesday, Nov 23:  Romans 15:13 – May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Question of the day:  What is something you can do today to bring spiritual hope to someone else?

Thursday, Nov 24:  Psalm 62:5-6 – For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

Question to ponder:  What things cause you to feel shaken and doubt the hope in God?  How can you uplift others to feel hope?

Friday, Nov 25:  Romans 5:5 – and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

Question to ponder:  What is the first thing you thought of when you read “God’s love has been poured into our hearts?”

Saturday, Nov 26:  2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 – Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.

Question to ponder:  How does God comfort and strengthen you when you are in need of solace?  What can you do to comfort and strengthen someone else who is faltering in their hope?

Advent candle lighting for November 29:

Hymn:  Precious Lord, Take My Hand   731 WOV

Today, the First Sunday of Advent, we light the Candle of Hope.  Through this week, we have been thinking about hope and the spiritual fruit of Goodness.  Just as we find hope in the Lord (No one is good but God alone, Mark 10:18) we are also called to give hope to others through our active goodness - being selfless in serving others, through moral virtue and through charity and kindness, even when it feels undeserved.  Perhaps especially when it is undeserved.  Hope can be fragile, and a harsh word or action can bring suffering and pain to others.  We are called to be the active hands of God in this mortal world, a reflection of the Holy Spirit within us - to bring joy to the weary, to bring relief to the suffering, to bring food to the hungry, and especially, to bring the Word of God to those who are disconnected from their faith.

Bring the hope of salvation to the world this week through your reflection of goodness, acknowledging your own salvation by the grace of God alone in your thoughts, words and actions towards others.

Let us pray.  Lord God, we ask you to bless us this coming week as we follow your example of goodness and hope in our daily lives.  If there is someone who needs the hope only you can give, bring us to them so that we can fill them with your Word and bring them comfort and peace through you.  In Jesus name we ask this.  Amen.