Reflection by The Rev'd Dr. Deborah Broome

Wake Up to Hope – A Fresh Start for Advent 

Jesus said: “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in the days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so, too, will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken, and one will be left. Keep awake, therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.                                                                       Matthew 24:36–44

What wakes you up in the morning?  An alarm?  A child?  A bird outside the window?  Advent begins with a wake-up call – not from an alarm clock, but from God. Jesus says, “Keep awake, because you don’t know the day or the hour.”

That sounds mysterious, even unsettling. But it’s not about fear – it’s about focus.  Advent is the start of a new season, a new year in the Church calendar.  We’re getting ready for the coming of Jesus, in two senses: as the Baby born in Bethlehem, and as the One who will come again at the end of time.  Advent is all about hope and fresh beginnings.  It’s a reminder that life isn’t just about drifting along.  There’s something bigger going on. 

Think about hope for a moment.  When we say “I hope,” it usually means uncertainty: “I hope the weather’s good,” or “I hope I can make it to the party.”  But the hope Jesus talks about is different.  It’s not wishful thinking – it’s confidence that God is at work, even when life feels unpredictable.

Jesus uses a surprising image: if the owner of a house knew when a thief was coming, they’d stay awake.  The point?  We don’t know what’s ahead, so don’t sleepwalk through life.  Pay attention. Be ready – not in an anxious way, but in a hopeful, purposeful way.

Advent is a chance to hit reset.  To wake up to what matters.  To leave behind habits that drag us down and start fresh. In one of the other readings for this Sunday, Paul says, “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.”  It’s like putting on new clothes for a new season – choosing attitudes and actions that reflect light, not darkness.

So what might a new beginning look like for you?  Maybe it’s making space for quiet in a busy day.  Maybe it’s reaching out to someone you’ve lost touch with.  Maybe it’s choosing kindness when frustration would be easier.  If faith feels uncertain for you, Advent is a great time to explore: try prayer, read a Gospel story, see what hope feels like.

Here’s the thing: this isn’t just about personal change.  Hope is something we share.  We’re part of a bigger story, a community that’s called to bring light into dark places, to work for peace and justice, to care for those around us.  Advent hope isn’t passive. It moves us to act for good, even in small ways.

So as Advent begins, take a moment to think: what will your fresh start be?  Whisper it to God, or write it down somewhere you’ll see it.  Let this season be more than countdowns and calendars.  Let it be a wake-up call to hope, a new beginning that shapes how you live.  And may Christ be your new beginning – the hope and salvation of your world.