Advent – A Season of Hope

“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Luke 21:25-28

SPIRIT MOMENT: ‘Hope for the Flowers’ is one of the books that truly inspired me in my youth. It is an allegorical tale of two caterpillars and their hopes and longings, their search for meaning and their eventual magical transformation into beautiful butterflies. Advent is a time of hope and longing. In man’s search for meaning, he longs for life everlasting. In today’s secular society, man’s search for meaning at its best is often about making a difference or making a contribution. The after-life and eternal life are non-issues. Yellow, one of the caterpillars in the book, would not have imagined how she could be transformed from an unsightly caterpillar into a colorful butterfly. But she trusted her instincts. She ‘died’ in her cocoon to magically emerge as a butterfly. The same hand that wrought the heavens with the stars and the planets has written in my heart a similar instinct – a deep longing and a fervent hope for everlasting life. Advent is a time for remembrance of this hope and longing, the time of waiting for the Incarnated One who will show us how all of this will come to pass.