Advent: Daring Assertions of Hope in A Secular Age
The Doomsday Clock debuted on the first magazine cover of The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (The Bulletin) in 1947 to mark the beginning of the Cold War and the nuclear arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union. The world had already seen the horrific effects of the Atomic Bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki just two years prior.
At the time, Hyman Goldsmith, co-editor of The Bulletin, commissioned artist Martyl Langsdorf to create a cover image for this edition. Martyl was married to physicist Alexander Langsdorf who worked on The Manhattan Project during his tenure at the University of Chicago. She had listened to scientists passionately debate the consequences of nuclear technology and depicted the urgency of their discussions by sketching a ticking clock set at seven minutes to midnight—indicating humanity’s proximity to nuclear apocalypse.
Since 1947 the clock’s minute hand, now a symbol of this urgency, has been moved twenty-five times—most recently in 2023. The clock now ticks with just ninety seconds to go. This disturbing fact is perhaps not too surprising when we take into consideration warring factions around the world, the prospect of nuclear warfare, or the catastrophic effects of global climate change.
This interminable sense of danger accentuates the tick-tock of the Doomsday Clock.
Advent
Advent, according the Church calendar, marks for us a time of contemplation and anticipation as we remember the Incarnation and wait for Christ’s return. Advent reminds us that the calendar we live by is much different than our google calendar that flies by.
Advent reminds us that the birth of Jesus—God’s Son—signaled a new beginning, a beginning that Isaiah the prophet wrote about so long ago.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:2,6).
The Kingdom of God Has Come Near
Jesus, the Son of God and Son of Man, some thirty years after his birth, stood in a synagogue in his home town of Nazareth. On the Sabbath day the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled it and read aloud,
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set a liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor (Isaiah 61:1–2; Luke 4:16–19)
All eyes, the Scripture tells us, were fixed on him as he rolled up the scroll and gaves it back to the attendant. He then declared,
Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing (Luke 4:21)
Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy and performed these very miracles. But in the days just before his crucifixion, he warned his followers about perilous times ahead.
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.
Stay alert, Jesus says, watch for signs in sun and moon and stars and pay attention to the distress of nations on earth. Do not be surprised or perplexed because of the roaring of the sea and the waves or by people fainting with fear. Jesus advises against the entrapment of excess and encourages vigilance.
Watch yourselves, lest your hearts be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For this will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:29–35).
Daring Assertions of Hope
The season of Advent reminds us that true hope is found in the places where fear and anxiety rule the day. Jesus lets us know that in him there is hope especially when it appears as though everything is falling apart. He is coming back and we need to prepare.
For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near (Luke 21:27–28)
This daring assertion of hope goes against the grain of our secular age and provides an unexpected and, often, unacceptable answer to the question, “Where is God?” Or statements like, “I knew it. There is no God after all.” And, yet these catastrophic events monitored by the doomsday clock are signals not of the end, but of the advent of Christ’s return; not of the absence but the very presence of God’s kingdom.
When you see these things taking place, Jesus says, you know that the kingdom of God is near” (Luke 21:31).
Prompts for Reflection
The first week of Advent prompts us to stand at the ready, attentive, watching and waiting for signs of hope among the rubble.
Read or listen to Luke chapters 1–3:21 and simply reflect on the significance of the child born to us, given to us. Christ the Lord.
Why do you think it’s “daring” to declare hope in the face of doom?
Pay attention to the holiday narrative—what themes stand out? Where do you hear or see signs of hope?
When and for whom might you embody the hope of Jesus this week?
