December 1, 2024 Reflection

Picture of Rev. Carla Wilks

Rev. Carla Wilks

Associate Minister

ADVENT oNE

Rome: A Place of Longing (Hope)”

Scripture Reading: Luke 2: 1-3

 

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We begin our Advent journey toward Bethlehem and the manger with a decree from Rome. Needing more money to build the Roman Empire, Caesar Augustus demands a census so that all who lived under his reign could “contribute” to his expansion of power. Whether we are a fan of those in power or not, our lives and stories are often shaped by that which is out of our immediate control. This was true in the moment of the Roman decree that would turn into the story of hope for the world.

This is the case for us here too, 2000 years later.  There are systems that shape our lives, often without our direct input—policies on housing, environmental stewardship, or reconciliation with Indigenous neighbours. We witness the tension between the pursuit of economic growth and the call to care for the marginalized, the Earth, and one another. The empires of our time may not wear the face of Rome, but they are still here today in structures of inequality, colonization, and the persistent prioritization of profit over people.

On this first week of Advent, we ask ourselves whether we are placing our hope in the empires of the world or in the liberating ways of God. Are we, as a nation and as individuals, longing for reconciliation, justice, and love? Are we willing to act with hope, challenging systems that perpetuate harm and embracing the radical inclusivity of the Christ child who comes to dwell among us? What are we longing for this Advent, and how does it call us to act with hope?