Advent is a time when we as Christians wait, when we hear once again the promises given to us, when we expectantly hope for Christ’s coming again, when we anticipate the fulfilment of God’s Belove Community here on Earth through the birth of Jesus Christ. While we wait, we are called to find meaning, to find purpose in the everyday moments of our lives, and to realize that it truly is a wonderful life!
December 3, 2023
It’s A Wonderful Life
Hope In It!
Isaiah 11: 1-10
Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl
Hope In It! Isaiah 11: 1-10
We begin our Advent journey today and as you may have guessed from the decorations around the communion table, our theme this year is connected to the movie: “It’s a Wonderful Life” This movie is one of the most popular and heart-warming films ever made. Its near universal appeal and association with Christmas has provided a rich story of hope, joy and an invitation to reframe our narratives, shifting our focus away from material items to embracing a way to see the world differently. Although I fully admit there are parts of this movie that have not aged well, it has inspired generations for decades…On the surface, this beloved holiday classic reminds us how easily we can become distracted from what is truly meaningful in life. But on a deeper level, the film reflects many of the themes of Advents, themes which call us as people of faith to make justice. Not only does this Beloved Christmas movie remind us that the choices we make in life have consequences beyond our own particular existence. It also draws our attention to the unfair power structures which still exist in our world today. The line in which George Bailey says, “You know how long it takes a working man to save $5000” has not aged slightly. This Beloved Christmas Classic invites us to be reminded that every human life has value and that true wealth, spiritual wealth, comes from a right relationship with God and selfless love toward others.” This Sunday, we are invited to find hope in our wonderful life, using these words from the prophet, Isaiah. I invite you to hear them now:
Isaiah 11: 1-10
A shoot will grow up from the stump of Jesse; a branch will sprout from his roots. The Lord’s spirit will rest upon him, a spirit of wisdom and understanding, a spirit of planning and strength, a spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord. He will delight in fearing the Lord. He won’t judge by appearances, nor decide by hearsay. He will judge the needy with righteousness, and decide with equity for those who suffer in the land. He will strike the violent with the rod of his mouth; by the breath of his lips he will kill the wicked. Righteousness will be the belt around his hips, and faithfulness the belt around his waist. The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat; the calf and the young lion will feed together, and a little child will lead them. The cow and the bear will graze. Their young will lie down together, and a lion will eat straw like an ox. A nursing child will play over the snake’s hole; toddlers will reach right over the serpent’s den. They won’t harm or destroy anywhere on my holy mountain. The earth will surely be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, just as the water covers the sea. On that day, the root of Jesse will stand as a signal to the peoples. The nations will seek him out, and his dwelling will be glorious.
The Word of God for the People of God. Thanks be to God.
“The words of Isaiah 11 offer a sense of hope for a time of peace and new potential in relationships”. (Cory Driver) This same sense of hope is felt at the dinner table as Peter Bailey talks to George Bailey about the work and mission of the old Building and Loan done within his shabby little office. (Watch video clip)
In more theological terms, Peter Bailey is reminding George that “The greatest challenge of the day is: [not us striving for more and more power in this world. It is how to bring about a revolution of the heart, [a revolution that makes our hearts open to the very presence of God in our midst, knowing that we as people of God are called to make justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God. This] revolution of the heart has to start with each one of us” [so that all of God’s people will be made whole, released from the chains of power and poverty.]
In just a few minutes, we will gather around the communion table, our dinner table as people of faith,if you will. And just like Peter Bailey reminded George in the movie, may we also be reminded that there is purpose, meaning and joy to be had, even if they happen in our “shabby little offices” and that in those moments, both extraordinary and ordinary, we are called to live out our call, we are called to give, to share, to ground ourselves in the hope that our efforts, no matter how small, are helping to bring about God’s Beloved Community here on Earth for all of God’s people. Because at it’s core, hope really is a prayer where we ask God to change the way we look at things and celebrate that it truly is a wonderful life.
Amen.
See also: Theology Tuesday for Sunday, December 3, 2023 – Hope In It! Isaiah 11: 1-10.
Additional sermons are available in the Sermon Library.
Listen to the podcast.
Leave a Reply
Your email is safe with us.