First Sunday in Advent: Hope

This message invites us into the beautiful tension between religious tradition and radical grace, using the story from Matthew 12 where Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. We're challenged to examine our own lives during this Advent season—are we caught up in the exhausting rhythm of holiday obligations, or are we focused on what truly matters? The Pharisees were so fixated on their rules about Sabbath rest that they missed the very point of God's law: restoration and compassion. Jesus asks a piercing question: wouldn't you rescue a sheep that fell into a well, even on the Sabbath? How much more valuable is a human being? As we navigate the busyness of Advent calendars, shopping lists, and family traditions, we're reminded that hope isn't found in perfectly executed holiday rituals. True hope comes from Jesus himself—the suffering servant prophesied in Isaiah 42, who doesn't break bruised reeds or snuff out smoldering wicks. He came not just to heal physical ailments, but to restore our broken relationship with God. This season calls us to strip away the unnecessary pressures we place on ourselves and refocus on the One who brings genuine restoration to our weary souls.