The Dream of God: Active Hope, Not Passive Waiting
Texts: Isaiah 65:17-25 and Luke 21:5-19
As we move toward Advent—a season often described as a time of “waiting”—it’s tempting to picture ourselves sitting back, hoping God will one day swoop in and set everything right. This week’s scriptures, though, push back against that passive vision. They ask us to see the glaring gap between the world as it is and the world as it could be—and to realize that God’s dream for creation is not about future rescue, but about how we choose to live now.
Isaiah’s Vision: Not a Forecast, But an Invitation
Isaiah’s famous words don’t offer us a blueprint for the afterlife. Instead, they imagine a radical alternative to “the way things are”:
“For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth…
No more shall the sound of weeping be heard…
The wolf and the lamb shall feed together…”
Isaiah’s dream is not pie-in-the-sky. It’s God’s invitation to help create a world where no one is left out, no one is exploited, and all creation lives in peace. It’s a vision meant to inspire and call us into action—not just comfort us until “someday.”
Jesus’ Challenge: Disrupting the Illusion of Control
In the gospel reading, Jesus stands among people awestruck by the grandeur of the Temple—the ultimate symbol of permanence and religious security. But Jesus is blunt: these things don’t last. Our human-made systems, no matter how impressive, are temporary. Instead of promising a miraculous fix, Jesus tells his followers that living into God’s dream will actually bring resistance, not applause.
Transformation Without Disruption?
If we’re honest, most of us want change without discomfort. We want the Dream of God—peace, abundance, an end to injustice—but we’d prefer not to risk our comfort or sense of control. Both Isaiah and Jesus refuse to let us off the hook. They remind us that the Dream of God is not a distant fantasy, but a present invitation:
How will you respond?
No More Blaming God for the Mess
These lessons challenge the old habit of blaming God for everything that’s broken. What we call “judgment” is often just us reaping the results of our own choices—systems built on fear, greed, or pride. God isn’t waiting to punish; God is inviting us into a new way of living.
So, What Does This Mean for Us—Now?
God isn’t going to magically fix everything while we stand by. The Dream of God isn’t a pipe dream; it’s a living reality, waiting for us to step into it. This takes risk, courage, and honesty:
Where am I clinging to comfort or certainty, instead of risking my part in God’s dream?
What “temple”—habit, attitude, or structure—needs to be released for something new to be born?
Where am I being nudged to act, speak, or love—even when it’s uncomfortable?
A Reminder of Who We Are
We are not powerless. We are not mere spectators. We are children of God—given the power, authority, and ability to join in the work of Love. The same Spirit that inspired Isaiah and empowered Jesus is alive in us.
You don’t have to wait for God to move mountains. You are called to move, to risk, to embody the Dream of God now. There will be resistance. But there will also be wisdom, endurance, and the assurance that nothing—not even death—can erase your worth or your role in God’s unfolding story.
Advent: Expectant Preparation, Not Passive Waiting
Advent is not about sitting on our hands. It’s about active, expectant preparation—like those who are preparing to welcome new life. May we open ourselves to God’s disruptive presence, ready to receive the Dream of God, and to become living signs of God’s love, justice, and hope in the world.
How are you preparing to embody the Dream of God?