Christmas O9

December 25, 2009 by Teri Frana.

“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:3-4

I’ve come to realize I process data in a linear, logical order and come to conclusions based mostly on sequential analysis. I also remember information this way. For example, if you ask me what the 17th letter of the alphabet is, I’d have to sing my ABC’s and count on my fingers to give you the answer, therefore sequentially accessing the data. (It’s “Q” by the way if you’re trying to figure it out - I had to count it twice on my fingers.)

There is one aspect of my Christian faith which has baffled my linear thought processes this year - how does suffering bring about hope? I can see how suffering generates perseverance. You either persevere suffering or you are overcome by it. I can even make the link between perseverance and character building. How you choose to persevere may greatly strengthen your character.

It’s between character and hope where my logical seems to break down. There have been plenty of people whose strength of character helped them achieve great things. But, the heroes of legend are the ones who hoped against all hope. Their hope seemed to come from something beyond their own strength. That kind of hope takes a common man and drives him to believe he can do something which is seemingly hopeless. This is where I fail to make the sequential link from character to hope. I simply can’t explain where we get that kind of hope.

As I think about Christ in this Christmas season, a light begins to dawn in my mind on the essence of true hope. Hope was born in a manger. The shepherds were drawn to it. The Magi followed a star to find it. The angels couldn’t keep quiet about it and sang it to the world. Think about it… Salvation and redemption for all mankind in the form of a baby, born in a barn, considered an illegitimate son of a peasant, come to earth to die a most horrific death and make the ultimate sacrifice once and to save all. Biblically, hope is always tied with salvation.

Jesus’ life was full with suffering. Isaiah tells us in 53:3, “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” Isaiah says much about this “suffering servant”:

“But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5

Hope poured out through suffering. Healing flowing out of sacrifice. Peace bought by the blood of punishment. Jesus was sent as the hope of salvation for all. Hope was born out of suffering and sealed with love that surpasses all understanding. HOPE is the assurance of the Gospel of peace - which came to us in the form of a tiny baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger. We do not hope because of what we wish will or won’t happen - we hope because Jesus is our Savior.

Our faith is represented by an instrument of death - the cross. It is in Jesus’ death that hope comes to us in the form of an empty tomb. That kind of hope can’t be mustered by our own strength. It can only be given as a gift from God. All we need do is choose it - open it - celebrate it - and remember the Divine Gift Giver who gave it to us. May you choose to be filled with the eternal hope which angels sing, shepherds rejoice, and wise men seek this Holiday season.

“And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” Romans 5:5

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