Message: Righteous Branch / Jeremiah 33:14-16

 The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: “The LORD is our righteousness.”

Today is the first Sunday of Advent, marking the beginning of the church year. The word Advent comes from the Latin adventus, meaning "arrival." Over the next four weeks, we prepare our hearts for the arrival of baby Jesus.

Last week, as the church year came to a close, we reflected on the ultimate hope found in the eternal God, the Alpha and Omega. Now, as we begin a new year, we turn our attention to the initial hope brought by baby Jesus. This connection between the beginning and the end of the church calendar reminds us that Christianity is a faith rooted in hope.

However, hope is often difficult to grasp, especially in today's world, where distractions relentlessly surround us at every turn. TV shows, social media, online shopping, sports, streaming services, and endless advertisements fill our time and attention. During the Christmas season, life becomes even more hectic. Family gatherings, preparing gifts, shopping, and decorating can make Advent feel more like a time of busyness than a season of waiting and preparation. Instead of becoming a humble manger, ready to welcome Jesus, we may find ourselves overwhelmed by distractions and consumed by ceaseless activity.

A similar sense of wandering can be seen in the bustling crowds of 19th-century Paris. Walter Benjamin (1892-1940), a Jewish-German philosopher, wrote about the arcades in the heart of Paris where glass-roofed shopping galleries filled with luxurious goods and promises of indulgence. These arcades became symbols of modern life, places that offered distraction and endless searching but lacked real meaning or purpose.

Within these arcades, Benjamin saw the “flâneurs,” gentlemen who strolled through the city, observing its contrasts and contradictions. Unlike the crowd, they noticed how people were drawn to the convenience and freedom of these spaces but often ended up trapped by their desires and distractions. For Benjamin, the flâneurs revealed how consumerism and technology could strip life of its deeper meaning.

Today, we live in a digital version of those 19th-century arcades. Smartphones, TVs, and computers promise convenience and freedom but often leave people feeling empty and disconnected. People are finding it difficult to focus deeply on anything. A study by Microsoft revealed that the average human attention span dropped from 12 seconds in 2000 to just 8 seconds in 2013. This decline is largely attributed to the rise of technology and digital media, which condition us to expect quick, bite-sized information and instant gratification. As a result, patience is fading, and many are becoming addicted to intense, short-lived stimulation.  In such a world, how can we find true hope? How can we move beyond distraction to discover something deeper?

In a way, the prophets in the Bible were like flâneurs, observing how people became distracted by false gods and lost sight of true meaning and hope. They gave strong warnings to the crowds, who did not recognize the real problems that had led them into a national disaster. But the voices of the prophets didn’t end with mere criticism. They offered visions of renewal, proclaiming that God’s hope can still take root and grow, even in the darkest times.

Jeremiah was one of these prophets. He strongly criticized the injustice and wrongdoings in society, as well as the foolishness of individuals. But he never forgot to speak of hope. He shared a vision of a 'righteous branch' that brings justice, compassion, and peace. This image of a small, fragile branch illustrates how true hope is cultivated, emphasizing that patience and waiting are essential to bear the fruit of life.

Jeremiah urges us not to be wanderers lost in distractions, but visionaries who notice the small signs of God’s work in the world and join in. His message reminds us that God’s work often begins small, like a sprouting branch, but grows to transform everything around it. True hope is found in the small acts of kindness that we participate in every day. When we turn away from distractions and trust God’s promise with patience, the righteous branch of hope springs up in a restless world. 

This Advent season, let’s step away from the distractions of our modern “arcades” and focus on places where we can discover true hope. Instead of spending time in busy shopping malls, consider visiting thrift shops like the House of Lazarus. These places offer items that meet the real needs of our families without unnecessary luxury. Choosing secondhand items not only helps save money but also protects the environment by reducing waste.

It would also be great to put down the screen and reconnect with church members we may have lost touch with, especially those living in retirement or nursing homes. A simple visit can remind them that we are one family in Christ and they are not forgotten. I also encourage participating in Thursday Bible study, where we can reflect and discover God’s hope in Scripture and our lives.

Advent calls us to move beyond distractions and busyness into active preparation for Christ’s coming. By noticing and nurturing small signs of hope within us, we can join in God’s transformative work. Together, we can help create a world where justice, peace, and love flourish. Let us prepare not only with anticipation but with action, turning our hope into a living testimony of God’s promise. 

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Rev. Min Hwang

South Stormont Pastoral Charge

(St. Andrew's-St. Mark's United Church & Ingleside-Newington United Church)

Advent 1, 2024