My internet is a little wonky this evening and has deleted the first draft of this, the second entry in my Advent Calendar Blog. I am sorely tempted to simply go to bed and try again tomorrow. But I will not give up so early in this project.

So here we go, again. The Scripture for this evening comes from my favorite prophet, Isaiah (we preachers are prone to choosing favorite prophets, gospels, stories, verses, etc. in the Bible).

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
for the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
and to proclaim that captives will be released
and prisoners will be freed.
He has sent me to tell those who mourn
that the time of the Lord’s favor has come,
and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.

Isaiah 61:1-2 NLT

This is the part of the scroll that Jesus turned to in the temple as he declared the beginning of his ministry. In essence, this is the mission statement for Jesus’ ministry. It was written down long centuries before Jesus ever walked in this world.

Because God has always been about freedom, compassion, comfort, forgiveness. These have always been the things that God was up to in our world. These are the things that you and I are meant to be about every day as we serve God, as we live as God’s children in this world.

So on this Advent Sunday of Hope, may your hope be continually restored by the Source of all hope. May you be filled with the hope of Jesus. May it spill out of you and touch all who surround you.