When Hope Returns

When Hope Returns | Dr. Kelly Wheat | 10:30 a.m.

When Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the temple in Luke 2:22–38, they come to fulfill the law — but the scene becomes a revelation. Simeon, filled with the Spirit, names Jesus as "a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel," and Anna, a prophetess, gives thanks and speaks about the child to all who were looking for redemption. This brief, holy encounter shows us that God’s promises arrive in ordinary moments: a ritual, a tired couple, an infant. The Spirit recognizes and declares what faith sees — that God is at work in fulfillment and surprise, bringing salvation not with fanfare but with faithful presence. As we enter the Advent season and the new year, may we cultivate eyes like Simeon and Anna: patient, spirit-led attention that recognizes Jesus in daily life and then shares the hope we receive with those around us.