The Season of Advent: Signs of Hope

For the Jewish community prior to the arrival of Jesus of Nazareth, there was a sense of both hope and despair.  The prophets of God made every attempt to encourage the people of Israel to remain steadfast in their hope that oppression by their enemies would cease for once and for all, and that they as a nation would ascend to a position of power and importance.  There is no doubt that many of them misinterpreted this hope for a type of Jewish imperialism.

On the other hand, there were those who despaired.  They had been hearing messages of consolation and hope for decades, and what they experienced was a vicious cycle of temporary spiritual revival and moral relapse.  Some of their kings would make every attempt to do the right thing in maintaining a monotheistic faith, while others would drag the nation down the road of polytheism.
Whenever they heard the prophets predict a future of restoration, they would respond with doubt and with cynicism.  They would even make fun of the prophets.

In the Christian community we have the same dynamic.  During the Season of the Advent, in which the Church prepares for the return of its Lord, we hear messages of hope, peace, and reconciliation. But at the same time we live with the reality of ethnic/racial, gender, and class barriers which need to be surmounted.  We also hear on a daily basis new of international conflict.  Subsequently, we can't help but wonder if we are deluding ourselves into thinking that justice and peace will finally prevail.

Today, December 17, 2014 is a very special day in the history of international relations.  It is also a very special day for the Church of Jesus the Christ as it hope against hope during the Season of the Advent.  As we continue to hold out hope for peace in the midst of despair, the President of the United States, Barack Obama makes an announcement that takes many people by pleasant surprise, and no doubt, angers others.  After an agreement relative to a prisoner swap, President Obama announced that the United States and Cuba would move to end their acrimony of over fifty years. He indicated that "we cannot continue to do the same thing for over a decade and expect different results. We have learned that isolation is not the answer and does not work."

I find it interesting that talks about reestablishing diplomatic relationships between the countries, overshadowed talks about ending the embargo that was imposed on the people of Cuba in the decade of the 1960's.  But it appears that reestablishing diplomatic relationships presupposes ending the embargo, which in essence, served no logical purpose other than to strengthen the Cuban regime under Presidents Fidel and Raul Castro.

This latest move can be interpreted in a variety of ways.  Some may wonder if the recent revelations that the CIA not only knew, but also encouraged and participated in the torture of detainees at Guantanamo Bay put the government of the USA to shame and left them with no alternative than to move in a different direction.  Others may say that President Obama is taking the position that "I am the President, I am in charge, and the hell with what you Republicans and other obstinate people think, I am moving forward."  Others may think that the President was "caving in" to certain interests groups in the Latino community in the U.S.A., including Cubans-Americans who realized that they had no vested interest in the U.S.A maintaining a strangulating hold on their families back home.

Undoubtedly, all of the above-mentioned factors played a role in these decisions, albeit a small one. However, there is one element that should not be overlooked in this, and it is the role that the communities of faith have played.  For decades many Christian leaders and churches sponsored exchanges between Cuba and the United States, though these exchanges were limited.  The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan of the Nation of Islam advocated for peaceful coexistence. In the most recent conversations, the Pope played a very important role in initiating them.

While we cannot afford to think that we will totally "kiss and make up," or that everything will be "honky dory," this announcement is a sign of hope.  In the community of faith, we must appreciate any concrete action taken to establish ties of harmony and peace between our country and other nations.  Truly, the Season of Advent, is a Season of hope for the future in terms of international relations and also for social affairs as we see signs that point to the coming universal reign of God. In the midst of despair, steps are being taken to move in the right direction.  Even so, come Lord Jesus.

In the Name of the Creator, and of the Liberator, and of the Sustainer. Amen.

Please feel free to comment.

Grace and peace,

Dr. Juan A. Ayala-Carmona