Rev Sue Murray shares thoughts
on Comfort and Hope
In Advent, as Christian people, we look back to what God has done in Jesus through the stories of his nativity which bring us comfort.
We also look forward to Jesus’ promised advent, his return, to bring all his people home, which brings us hope.
In a very difficult year where so many in God’s world have lost so much – family members, jobs, homes, security - we retell the story of a young pregnant unmarried woman in the middle east. We tell of a man standing by this woman, against all the customs of the day. We tell of unruly shepherds and wise men from the east, angelic choirs and a birth in a stable among the animals, because over-crowded hotels had no room for a needy family.
It is a story of poverty, homelessness and refugees. It is a story of a conquered
nation living under a foreign ruler’s laws.
But it is also a story of hope for - as God has acted in the past - He will act in the
future and is acting even now as the hungry are fed, the homeless are housed, the
refugee finds a home and the sick are healed. God is acting through us as we
respond to the story of the nativity in compassion to those around us.
May you find comfort this Advent as we follow Jesus’ story day by day.
May you also find hope for the future.
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