Hope!

Yesterday, January 6th was Epiphany, the day know for the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. Last Sunday I preached about the Magi or “wisemen” who came from the east led by a star. What prompted these men who were priests of an ancient religion to travel over 400 miles to find the King of the Jews? My conclusion was… hope.
 
With the horrendous year we have just had, I don’t know about you, but that’s what I need right now… hope! That will be my “theme song” for 2021. If you didn’t catch my quick video just before midnight on New Year’s Eve, or even if you did, I think the story of God’s chose people, the Jewish people in exile in Babylon is especially timely for us. Jerusalem had been sacked and their temple destroyed. Many of them were forced to relocate in Babylon. They remained there for 70 years and felt abandoned by God. But God sent a message through the prophet Jeremiah that after the 70 years was up, God had great plans for the Jewish people.
 
“For thus says the LORD: Only when Babylon's seventy years are completed will I visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For surely, I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.”
 
As a congregation we may have felt like we have been in exile. Unable to worship in the church building, not able to see each other, everything done with social distancing and mask… oh… and don’t forget the dreaded Zoom meetings! But just as God had plans for the Jewish people, God has plans for us too. As he said, “plans for a future with hope!” And that hope my friends is the light of Christ. That light shines into the darkest places of our world and reminds us that we are not alone. The Light that began with the leading of a star came to earth to live among us and is present with us now. Hope my friends… there is hope!
 
"See" you Sunday!
 
Pastor Lu