Despite uncertainty there is hope

I have many Baptist friends who often chide me as an Episcopalian for our “stolid” approach to worship particularly when it comes to our hymnody.

Yet, if there is one hymn that I had to choose that invokes a powerful and emotional response that we all can relate to it is, “O Come O come Emmanuel.”

For me, this hymn moves me to tears of joy whenever I hear it. It is a hymn that so beautifully and so profoundly captures the deep longing and yearning of God’s faithful people for the reining, healing, liberating, reconciling, saving, and transforming presence of God in Christ Jesus that is so desperately needed in this sinful and broken world.

This hymn speaks to and of the hopes that I believe that we all have in the core of our heart and soul for a just and peaceful world, where the love and glory of God abounds and fills the whole earth “as the waters cover the sea!”

Looking at the state of affairs that is our world today, where there is so much uncertainty and unrest, I trust that I am not alone in my desire for the peace of Christ and for the blessed assurance of the steadfast grace and love of God that endures forever. In other words, I love this time of year!

Advent and Christmas affords us wonderful opportunities to be still in order to be reminded that our longings and our yearnings are not in vain, that our patient and steadfast faith is worth it, as it shall yield the fruit of the kingdom of God. We are reminded that our God, our Emmanuel, is with us right here and right now. We are reminded that there is hope in the midst of our despair.

There is light shining in those dark moments, trials, and tribulations that we sometimes face in our individual and collective lives.

For me there is nothing more satisfying than seeing all of God’s people gathered together in worship singing that wonderful hymn, beckoning and inviting God to come into our midst.

There is nothing more wonderful than seeing people from all walks of life, in all of their splendid diversity coming together with a common hope and sharing a common faith that unites us with common purpose to give thanks for the greatest gift of God’s love for the world. Merry Christmas!

Rev. Owen C. Thompson

Trinity-St. John’s Church, Hewlett