One of the first things I remember about being a student at Duke Divinity School is this passage from the Gospel According to Mark. The preceptors in Dr. Efird's New Testament class called these verses the "Little Apocalypse," and said it was a "watershed." While I'm still not sure exactly what they meant when they called this passage a "watershed" moment in Mark's telling of the gospel, I've come a long, long way in understanding Apocalyptic literature.
Out of a time when fear and despair were everywhere because of repeated occupations by foreign armies and the weight of oppression that came with them, this genre of literature we call "Apocalyptic" was born. Apocalyptic writing developed from Persian influence and was adopted by the Jews into their situation. This literature usually flourished during times of persecution. Though often misunderstoond today, its purpose was to inspire hope and confidence in those people who were being asked to remain faithful, (to hold to their religious convictions), in the face of persecution and possible martyrdom. Using hyberbole and wild symbolic language, it worked to explain why persecution was occurring and to ensure that God's intervention would soon occur. In short, this present age where evil has the upper hand will soon, and very soon, be replaced by a new age when God will again be in control.
Advent is a season of hope because it reminds us over and over and over again that God is in control and that nothing in all of creation, short of our refusal to receive, can or will stop God's love from being made manifest. Our hope is in God.
May the hope that is God's love in Christ be known in your heart today!
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, Master of both the light and the darkness, send your
Holy Spirit upon our preparations for the comings of Christ. We who
have so much to do seek quiet places to hear your voice each day. We
who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming
among us. We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete
joy of your kingdom. We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your
presence. We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeing the
light. To you we say, "Come, Lord Jesus." Amen.
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