Incarnate Hope
We gather this evening amid the glow of twinkling lights and the familiar sounds of the season. And yet, not all is quiet; not all is bright. The world still remains under the grasp of tyrants like King Herod and Caesar Augustus; shepherds and people experiencing homelessness are left out in the cold, unjust systems separate families, and high holy days feel less holy when loved ones who once sat at the table are no longer present. And yet, by the grace of God, hope is made incarnate. Hope is made incarnate even when our hearts struggle to feel the warming light of love from God-made flesh.
The tensions present in the story of the birth of Christ mirror the troubles of the current time. An unwed woman with a story to tell, but who yet believes what she has to say? A nation under an occupying force that isn't afraid to use violence as a means to assert its dominance, does anyone hear the cries of the widows and orphans buried under the rubble? And exploitative practices that seek to pull every penny from the pockets of people experiencing poverty, do we see where they lay their heads at night? It would appear that the world today, as it was back then, is in need of incarnate hope.
But let's be clear: Hope incarnate is not a magical balm that immediately soothes our weary souls and solves all our problems. Hope incarnate is disruptive; it's like a bright light that shines into a room and reveals all the places we missed even after we "cleaned" and readied the home (I don't know about you, but that's always the worst feeling, seeing that ray of light illuminate like a spotlight the specks of dust I missed). And I don't mean this as a negative; the reality that I believe we so often forget is that the story of love, of hope, made flesh is messy and disruptive.
Yet even amid the mess and the chaos, hope is incarnate; hope is here with us now, even in our present day. For this hope made flesh is a light that the darkness cannot overcome as the writer of the Gospel of John writes, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it." (John 1:5) The Christ-child didn't just come into the world 2,000 years ago; this light, this hope, moved into our neighborhoods and remains with us. Hope has made a home among us, and as long as hope dwells among us, there is reason for us to hope that tomorrow and the day after tomorrow will be made anew.
Yes, the shepherds and many others still live on the outskirts, the margins, yet they are the first to hear the good news, the choir of angels who told them, "Do not be afraid." Yes, Mary may still have faced the judging glares of others, yet her heart, full of wonder and courage, persisted as she gave birth to the gift of new life for all people. Yes, there are still people who grieve and mourn, who have no place to lay their heads or food to eat, yet voices, prophets, and people who act as the hands and heart of God continue to care and stand up for the people Christ came to serve and love.
The story of Christmas, the story of incarnate hope, invites us to experience this hope, to participate in sharing it, to feel its warmth, and to be transformed by its power. It’s in a smile exchanged with a stranger, a kind word offered to someone in despair or grief, or a moment of beauty that rekindles our hope. The hope incarnate shines in these everyday acts, reminding us of God’s presence and that hope, even in the messiness of life, remains steadfast and true.
Remember that hope incarnate is not some glib sentiment or greeting you would find on a Christmas card; it’s something we embrace, something we live, and let it shine. Carry this hope with you; bring it home to your workplaces, neighborhoods, and daily interactions. Imagine the world as it could be—where God’s love and justice reign—and take the first steps to make it so, a place where hope incarnate is that bright shining star we follow. For in this, we find the true joy of Christmas: the knowledge that the light of hope shines within us and through us, offering a glimpse of God’s kingdom here on earth. Let us rejoice in that and let us live it boldly.