Advent concerns the arrival of the Messiah: a lever of hope in the midst of omnicron | Morung Express


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Dr John Mohan Razu

As Christians, we are in the season of Advent, waiting to commemorate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. The whole of 2020 was focused on COVID-19. The whole world has been influenced by the dictates of the coronavirus. He dominated humanity in such a way that all activity came to a screeching halt. No one dared to challenge and those who challenged had to pay the price. Everyone has been urged to follow appropriate behavior for COVID, which means our role models must be consistent with ways to protect our lives. Christmas services and festive activities had to be canceled because the coronavirus was in a devastating mood.

In 2021 people thought they would be much better than the last one, but the passage has never been so definitive, but had to be walked with care. In recent months, church services and other activities have proceeded as before COVID-19. Little by little, other activities were gradually relaxed and thus signaled to normality. Christians everywhere wanted to celebrate Christians with joy. Many have made huge plans, but the Omicron variant of the coronavirus suddenly appeared and gradually picked up its speed and spread to countries like India.

In such a context, the WHO says that the new variant Omicron VOVID-19 could become a dominant potential threat because, although it is considered benign, it is considered to be highly transmissible and therefore travels faster and further. Whether or not the new Omicron variant virus is fatal remains to be seen in the coming weeks. Experts now consider not knowing exactly its characteristics. Booster doses could to some extent prevent serious illness in those infected. However, many experts say it is early to say or comment anything on the matter. Nonetheless, it is predicted that Omicron is likely to further infect children.

Nevertheless, overall, everyone is wondering whether to proceed as planned or not. Currently, the West is hit hard by the coronavirus. The Omicron variant is spreading like wildfire around the world and infecting anyone who crosses its path. Travel plans, entertainment, large gatherings and many more can be badly affected over time as the intensity and severity of the new variant is so horrifying. Some questions that emerge are: are we back to square one? When are we going to be completely out of the COVID-19 variants? Is the new normal a permanent way of life or will we be affected by another variation?

As a backdrop, for Christians, what does Advent mean? How are we going to build on the coming of Jesus Christ as the most important and meaningful as the context in which humans live continues to change? In tracing some of the Messianic prophecies we find different types such as time-limited, person-centered, fulfillment-based; while there are others having an application of the New Testament of the Old Testament by candidly mentioning specific individuals, thus leaving no guesswork, while there are others which specifically identify individuals as Christ.

The Messianic predictions that have been reported on the whole were vague and filled with uncertainties, except for a few that came so close. However, one or two nuanced predictions identified who this Messiah was. As we are a few weeks away from the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ who incarnated as a human identifying himself with humans by being born in a manger. Humanity is thus authenticated and essentialized by this act in which the Messiah is found, Lord of All and Prince of Peace, so that the world of humans who live there is thus redeemed and saved.

Advent 2021 is indeed an innovation that opens up new perspectives to the world in which we live to reflect, reinterpret and meditate. Humanity is in a desperate situation, totally abandoned and has withered its resolve and resilience, not knowing how to cope with the fluidity of its times. The times they live in pose the most compelling questions and a totally bleak future. Four Sundays that culminate with the coming of Christ to earth will have to reflect on a large world population going through an unprecedented series of moments that haunt their very existence, not only theirs, but also their children and grandchildren.

The future of the planet is now in dire straits, as humans have devastated planet Earth for their selfish gains and personal interests. We have experienced erratic weather conditions – heavy flooding, rains, droughts and forest fires. We live in a time of nature’s fury and therefore the dialectic between planet Earth and the existence of humans depends solely on how we take care of our Mother Earth. Likewise, those who want to have a quality of life leave their countries torn by wars, conflicts, poverty, hunger and squalid conditions by sea routes by boats, on container routes and rough terrain on foot, facing all kinds of obstacles.

We are in the Advent season which should prompt us to consider those whose lives remain bleak and hopeless. Those who have been severely touched and affected by the actions of others of their greed and selfishness are among us. These are refugees and migrants for environmental, social, economic, socio-cultural and religious reasons as well. There is a huge section that has lost parents, friends and relatives and loved ones to pandemics. Never in the recent history of mankind has humanity been faced with such serious and grueling problems. Crossing by sea, on foot and by road, many died, especially young millennials and children.

This is the time of survival for many of those who have been cast down and slaughtered by the forces of humans as well as nature. Their hope and confidence must be rekindled and reassured as they continue to simmer. Humanity is in a state of shock, despair and utter chaos. What then is the exit? Where does hope come from? Hope in a time of Advent is the coming of the Messiah to us. God in Jesus coming into the human world to be with us. This is the saving moment for humans as God in Jesus taking human form to live in a world of humans.

We are waiting for the moment of the coming of God in Jesus into the world – the Messiah, the Messenger of Hope and the Prince of Peace. Advent means to wait in hope and with the hope that our Lord and Savior will come to us – this is the Moment of Truth – God in Jesus Coming into the human world is the zenith, the penultimate and gasoline. As we read in John 10:10b “… I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly. Jesus coming to us offering abundant life is the knot of Advent that instills hope in the present and the future.

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