Today, we begin the season of Advent. With this beginning, we are reminded that this season is a time of hope. Yet with this season of hope, we also find ourselves thinking about those who have none.

To start today’s message, I’d like to share a passage from the Apocrypha—The Wisdom of Solomon. This book, also known as The Book of Wisdom, is not part of the Protestant Old Testament but is included in the Deuterocanonical books recognized by the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions.

Before Jesus’ time, Jewish people used two main versions of Scripture: the Hebrew Bible, used in Israel, and the Greek Septuagint, used by Jews living in Greek-speaking regions. The Wisdom of Solomon was written in Greek about a century before Christ and was included in the Septuagint, but not in the Hebrew Bible.

Early Christians often read from the Septuagint, so The Wisdom of Solomon was familiar and respected in the early church. After the Temple was destroyed in 70 CE, Jewish leaders recognized only the Hebrew Scriptures as their official Bible, which did not include this book. During the Protestant Reformation in the 1500s, church leaders such as Martin Luther chose to follow the Hebrew version of the Old Testament. They saw The Wisdom of Solomon as valuable reading but not inspired Scripture. The Catholic Church, however, officially retained it in 1546 at the Council of Trent.

Even though this text isn’t part of the Protestant Bible, it still carries a valuable message. That’s why I’m including it in today’s reflection.

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Wisdom of Solomon 2:1–5 (NRSV)

1 For they reasoned unsoundly, saying to themselves,
“Short and sorrowful is our life,
and there is no remedy when a life comes to its end,
and no one has been known to return from Hades.

2 For we were born by mere chance,
and hereafter we shall be as though we had never been,
for the breath in our nostrils is smoke,
and reason is a spark kindled by the beating of our hearts;

3 When it is extinguished, the body will turn to ashes,
and the spirit will dissolve like empty air.

4 Our name will be forgotten in time,
and no one will remember our works;
our life will pass away like the traces of a cloud
and be scattered like mist
that is chased by the rays of the sun
and overcome by its heat.

5 For our allotted time is the passing of a shadow,
and there is no return from our death,
because it is sealed up and no one turns back.”

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Understanding the Passage

At the start of chapter 2, the author (King Solomon) describes a group of people who “reasoned unsoundly,” meaning they think and live without God. These are not specific individuals but rather a mindset: people who see life only through human reason and earthly experience.

They have no faith, no belief in God, and no hope in life after death. They live as though there is no God, no judgment, and no eternal truth. They believe death is final—“no one has been known to return from Hades.” This perspective aligns with an ancient form of atheism or materialism—the idea that humans are merely biological matter, not created by God: “We were born by mere chance.”

From such a mindset flows hopelessness: “Our name will be forgotten.” They deny divine justice and eternal life, saying, “There is no return from our death.”

Sound familiar?

Sadly, many of us know people like this—people who see life as limited to what happens on this earth. How do we bring them to Christ? How do we offer hope to someone who has none?

The truth is, we never fully know another person’s spiritual journey. I’ve heard people say, “So-and-so was a lost cause—died without knowing Jesus.” But the reality is, we have no idea where that person’s heart or spirit was in their final moments.

Our purpose is not to dwell on what we don’t know, but to lift others up with hope.

We see people walking through life without hope—especially during this time of year. We see them rushing through shopping malls, cutting ahead in line, or grumbling about prices. They may complain that they’re “shopping to death,” frustrated about buying gifts for people they barely know.

The commercial side of this season easily distracts us from its true meaning. Though Advent is a season filled with hope, few truly find it.

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The Source of Hope: Romans 15:7–13 (NKJV)

7 Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.
8 Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers,
9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written:
“For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles,
And sing to Your name.”
10 And again he says:
“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!”
11 And again:
“Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!”
12 And again, Isaiah says:
“There shall be a root of Jesse;
And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles,
In Him the Gentiles shall hope.”
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

In this text, Paul reminds us of Isaiah’s prophecy: “There shall be a root of Jesse; and He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, in Him the Gentiles shall hope.”

Jesus came for both Jews and Gentiles. The “root of Jesse” refers to Jesse, the father of King David. Jesus comes from this family line, fulfilling God’s promise that the Messiah would come from the house of David (2 Samuel 7:12–16). The term “root” suggests that Jesus is not a branch but the very source of David’s line.

“In Him the Gentiles will find hope” shows that Jesus brings hope and salvation to everyone. God’s promise is inclusive—open to all who believe, not just to those with Jewish heritage.

Romans 15:12 confirms that Jesus is the promised Messiah from Jesse’s line. His kingdom is for all nations. Everyone—Jew or Gentile—can find hope, salvation, and belonging in Him.

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The Creed and the Christmas Story

As we enter this season, we celebrate the incarnation of Christ—God made flesh. We witness the fulfillment of ancient prophecies and continue to proclaim our faith through the Apostles’ Creed:

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit 
and born of the Virgin Mary…

This part of the creed is especially meaningful today. Hope is found in a belief system rooted in the truth of Christ, born of the Virgin Mary. The Christmas story must be believed in its entirety. If we abandon any part of it, we weaken the very message that brings us hope.

If Christ were not born of the Virgin Mary, we would have to question whether He came into the world at all. And if Jesus did not come into the world, how could anyone claim Him as the One who brings hope?

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Where Is the Hope?

Hope is found in Jesus Christ.
We read about it. We sing about it.

Edward Mote expressed it beautifully in his hymn:

My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
all other ground is sinking sand.

As Paul wrote to the Romans:

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)

Paul knew that there is peace in believing. God is the source of all hope, and joy and peace come through the power of the Holy Spirit.

May we find hope in Jesus Christ today.
May that hope strengthen us through the holiday season and carry us into a new year.

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About The Art: The Annunciation (1898) by Henry Ossawa Tanner

The Annunciation (1898) is one of Henry Ossawa Tanner’s most celebrated works, offering a fresh and intimate interpretation of the moment the angel announces to Mary that she will bear Christ. Instead of portraying the angel in human form, Tanner uses a glowing column of light, emphasizing the holiness of the moment while keeping the scene grounded and realistic. His subdued colors, gentle lighting, and focus on Mary’s expression highlight the humility, awe, and humanity of this encounter.

Tanner—born in 1859 and the first African American painter to gain international recognition—often drew on his Christian faith in his art. His move to Paris allowed him to escape racial prejudice in the United States and refine his style within the European art tradition. The Annunciation reflects both his spiritual depth and his artistic mastery, capturing a sacred moment with emotional honesty and reverent beauty.