The Birth of Hope

A few years ago, U2 came to town for an unsuspected second stop -- this was in 2001. Despite having caught them the first time around earlier in the year, I wanted to go again. Though, anyone who has been to a U2 show knows, it is probably the first show that makes you want to go see a second one. Anyway, my roommate Clee and I went to line up in hopes of rush tickets (day of the show). We went rather early and waited aaalll day. We didn't get any tickets. In fact the rush tickets ran out just a few persons before us.

That small event occurred to me as I thought about hope - and Jesus' birth and the way all these things are connected - because that experience of waiting, although it yielded no concert, was a lot of fun. I remember Clee's phone would ring a catchy little ditty that strangers around us soon would memorize, and there we all were, U2 hopefuls, humming along to a ringtone, even after the phone has been picked up. My other friend, also waiting in line somewhere away from us, would keep calling me to get updates.

The trouble I have with hope in general is that it takes so long and it has immense possibility to disappoint. So I think of the U2 concert because then I think, that maybe even in the wait and in the face of disappointment, hoping can be fun and really good. Did we know it was HIGHLY unlikely that we'd get in? Oh yes. But there was a small tiny chance and so we gave it a shot.

This has everything to do with the birth of Christ. The Jewish nation at the time still dared to hope that God will deliver them from oppression, despite hundreds of years of Roman rule. Years of God's silence was broken when the angel announced to Zechariah and Elizabeth: even in your old age, you will bear a son, who will prepare the way for the Savior. Years of waiting for the Messiah ended when Mary gave birth to Jesus, even though she was a virgin. Despite Herod's scheming and killing, the baby Jesus escaped, thanks to God's voice and Joseph and Mary's obedience. Hope is defiant and non-sensical.

But even at that first Christmas, the night that ended and began many hopes, there were 30 years before Jesus started - you know - being the Jesus we know and hear about. And even when he was ministering to people, he did not end human suffering and bring down the oppressive forces of Caesar like they thought he would. He is finally here, but we still have to wait for his second coming for the rest of the work to be finished. He started it and he will complete it.

So even when, even if, despite this and that and everything that breaks our spirits: We will wait. And there shall be good times while we wait. U2 is still touring. Hallelujah.

Merry Christmas everyone.