Hopeful Faith

Daniel 6:6-27

“Hopeful Faith”

27 November 2016 St. Andrew’s Military Chapel Singapore

            If there is one person we could cut a little slack and forgive them for losing hope, Daniel might just top that list. When one is thrown into a pit with hungry lions to provide them a meal for a few days, one could reasonably find that a hopeless situation. But, as typically happens in the Bible, God flips the script and Daniel walks away without a scratch.

            Daniel’s story of standing against an unjust law to the bitter end is what we expect of our heroes. Maybe that is why this story is timeless and one those familiar with the Bible know well. Like Joseph he is a slave that finds a position of trust in his captor’s government. Like Christ he finds himself shut up in a cave like tomb and walks out from guaranteed death. This episode of Daniel’s life has echoes of the past and glimpses of the future.

            As I reflected on this episode in Daniel’s life this week, I kept thinking about the story of Andy Dufresne in the movie The Shawshank Redemption. A banker jailed for the murder of his wife, of which he claimed innocence. During all of the trials of life in prison, Andy is able to maintain his hope in eventually securing his freedom. Over 19 years Andy has been slowly plotting and chipping away at his captivity so that one-day he is finally again free.

            The thread woven through all good heroic epics is the faith of the protagonist. Joseph kept faith that, despite his brothers betraying him and selling him into slavery, God was using him for something greater than he could sense. Andy Dufresne gained his hope in the fact he was innocent and would one day be free of the cage in which he lived. Jesus had hope in the future because he knew where history was leading and that his death would provide the hope and freedom humanity desperately needed.

            Faith and hope go hand in hand. Even a mustard seed of faith burrows itself into our mind and hope begins to take root and grow. Having faith in God, each other, and the world is in desperate need these days.

            We can watch the news, read online articles, interact with people via social media, or just talk with our friends and family and notice a deep sense of fear and worry in the world. People are uncertain of how a globalized economy will affect their everyday lives. Some are worried about how politics and government policies (regardless of our home country) will negatively affect their lives. There are a large number of people from our home countries that belong to a minority group that are worried how a fracturing of unity will make them, and other minority groups, more isolated or worse yet, objects of severe persecution.

            It’s in a time of fear and perceived darkness that we need the hope of incarnation in our lives. The only thing that can fight fear is hope and nothing is more hopeful than reflecting on the birth of Christ and what that meant for mankind as well as looking hopefully on the promise of Christ’s second coming and our inclusion in God’s Kingdom and plan for the world.

            During the time of Christ’s birth, it was a dark time for Israel. They had been under occupation for many years and hope had dimmed such that many wouldn’t believe that the Messiah had arrived despite him standing before them and looking the Messiah in the eyes. Hope had dimmed so much that prophecies seemed far off and the realm of fairy tales, fantasy, and science fiction.

            Yet, at an unexpected time and in an unexpected manner, God became man and walked the earth. It was hopeful for those that recognized and saw Christ for who he was. For those who didn’t see God before them, it wasn’t the end of the world, just more of the same. It wasn’t that Christ’s appearance suddenly solved the world’s problems, it’s that Christ injected hope into what many saw as a hopeless situation. And that glimmer of hope changed everything.

            Those that have truly seen Christ and tasted the hope of the Messiah have contributed immeasurable good into the world. Yes, there have been bad things done in the name of Christ, but those people haven’t truly followed Christ in their lives. Christians follow Christ to spread a message of hope to everyone in the world. We can be honest about the ills of the world while still maintaining a hopeful stance as to how it will end.

            As Christians we are called to bring hope to those who are in hopeless situations. We may not be able to change the situation and overthrow oppressive regimes. Even Christ didn’t overthrow Rome. What he did was inspire hope and love among everyone so that each and every person in the world is valued and loved equally in his, and we would hope every follower of Christ’s, eyes.

            When we reflect on the incarnation and the hope that Advent brings us we are called to acts that bring hope hopelessness. Volunteer time to learn about and know those in hopeless situations. Reach out and listen, really listen and acknowledge the fears people have about how those in power are affecting their lives. Quit posting heated rhetoric, click bait articles, and “facts” on social media. Stand with those causes that you feel need your support and hope. Not just by hashtag philanthropy, but actually physically standing with those who need your help.

            The hope of Christ isn’t just for those who sit in a church on Sunday mornings. Christ brought hope and healing to all the world and is depending on the church to spread that hope and do it’s part to heal the many wounds of the world. On this day of hopefully looking into a new year of the church we are called to spread that hope to the world. During Advent as we anticipate the arrival of Christ in the world, let us also seek ways as individuals and as a church community to be the church and spread hope to the darkest corners of the world.