Sermon: "People of Hope"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

[This sermon by Bishop vonRosenberg was delivered using the following notes.]

Our Gospel reading today refers to a time of powerful natural upheaval. We read there of natural forces of destruction. "Jesus said, 'There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations, confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken'"(Lk 21:26). At such times, the powers of heaven can indeed seem to be shaken. Certainly, the might of natural forces can render us quite helpless.

I suspect that each of us has felt rather insignificant, in the face of nature's power, and at times, we may sense our inadequacy to cope with those forces. I think of making preparations for hurricanes along the coast and, then, watching the subsequent destruction and living through the times of removing debris and rebuilding. I remember, too, tornadoes that struck in North Carolina and, then, in upstate South Carolina years ago - as well as the one that hit just east of the Cumberland Plateau several years back. I think of the paralysis caused by snow and ice in our part of the world when winter storms occasionally make their presence known. Indeed, forces of nature tend to put us in our places, from time to time.

Just this week, for instance, Annie and I traveled to New Orleans, where we met with other bishops and spouses. While there, we saw and experienced the effects of nature's destructive power, first hand. The reality of Hurricane Katrina - fifteen months later - continues to be quite profound indeed. New Orleans and Mississippi have experienced very different responses during the past year; however, each is tragic in its own right.

In New Orleans, the response phase to the disaster is winding up. However, the period of recovery will last for about five years, and then, the time of rebuilding will extend for at least fifteen more years. There is so much to say about what has happened, and this is not the time to do so. However, let me share with you of a couple of perspectives that tell part of the story. In New Orleans, only three of the 10 hospitals that formerly served the city are now open. Plans are unclear about opening any additional hospital facilities. Also, eighty percent of primary care physicians have left the area. Again, it is not clear who may come back. Another factor tells a different part of the story. In the Lower Ninth Ward, 80 percent of the residents owned their homes. However, most of those homes were passed down from one generation to the next, through families. Often the legal paperwork was not addressed in that process. Therefore, now there are many, many families who want to return, but they do not have clear title to their homes.

On the other hand, while we were in New Orleans, we did observe some positive signs there. For instance, parts of the city are coming back and seem to be approaching normalcy. Also, there are many caring people, from many places, who have come to work in New Orleans, and these people continue to cooperate and work together for the sake of displaced and homeless people. Finally, there exists now a greater awareness of the racial and economic divisions that have long existed but that have not been exposed so obviously in prior times. Thus, there are indeed some positive signs, in the middle of all the negative ones.

I think of words from St. Paul that encourage us to seek for such indications of hope, even in the worst of circumstances. St. Paul wrote, "We know that all things work together for good for those who love God" (Rom 8:28). That encouragement expresses a certain attitude of hope, even in the midst of overwhelming realities. There is a certain optimism and hope that accompany a true and lively faith. Behind the optimism and hope stands the conviction that a good and loving God is in control … in control of our lives and, ultimately, in control of this earth and of all creation.

It is with this attitude of optimism that we confront passages like the Gospel reading today. In this reading, we hear indications of the end of time, of Christ's Second Coming - and we have heard this theme several times recently.

Indeed, the same theme will permeate all of Advent as well. At this time of year, we await the celebration of Christ's first arrival into the world, on Christmas. However, we know that event is history. Thus, we will be celebrating an anniversary at Christmas - the anniversary of an event that happened two thousand years ago. However, in Advent today, what we actually anticipate is Christ's return, his Second Coming. That is Advent's primary focus. And it is that event about which we read, "People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken." The event is one that has cosmic implications, and the authors describe it in rather frightening terms. However, the fact is that we do not know what that time will be like. The Lord of the world - the Lord of the living and of the dead - will assume his rightful place of power and authority. But, that will be a good thing … a very good thing indeed.

Thus, as Christian people, we are a people of hope. Even when confronted by the terrible results of Hurricane Katrina - and even when encountering images like those in our Gospel reading - we claim hope as our companion. We are people of hope as we begin a new church year - and as we face the possibility of the beginning of a new world, upon Christ's return, at some point.

Our hope does not rely on events of this world … on the forces of nature or on man-made occasions that can shake us to the core of our beings. No, the source of our hope is not found there.

Rather, the source of our hope is the One who is Lord of this world - and Lord of the next. He is the One who has lived this life and suffered the worst that our world has to give. In spite of all that, he is the One we call "Savior." He is Jesus … and in him, we find our hope.

Today's collect sums up our thoughts and the theme today very well indeed. "Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal." May it be so - for us and for our loved ones, for the people of New Orleans, the people of East Tennessee, and the people everywhere - this Advent and always! Indeed, may we ever be people of hope! Amen.

Copyright © 2006 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee