Resurrection: Advent 2024

In this powerful exploration of Advent, we're invited to reconsider our understanding of hope and the kingdom of God. The story of the wise men from Matthew 2 serves as a poignant illustration of two contrasting responses to Jesus' birth - one of joyful worship and sacrifice, the other of fear and rejection. This narrative challenges us to examine our own hearts: Are we like the wise men, willing to journey far and give our best to worship the true King? Or are we like Herod, clinging to our own kingdoms and resisting God's plan? The message urges us to seek first the kingdom of God, understanding it not as a distant, ethereal concept, but as a treasure of immeasurable worth. Jesus' parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price remind us that the kingdom is worth more than everything we possess or hope to be. As we reflect on this, we're encouraged to reorder our priorities, hopes, and desires around what God truly offers us in Christ - a fullness of life that far exceeds our earthly aspirations.