But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? –St. Paul
The story of Christmas is a story of hope—it’s not an end in itself, but a story that looks forward.
Hope is always focused on the future—once we have what we hope for, there’s no need to hope for it any longer. And this forward-looking hope is what we get with Christmas.
Light came into the darkness, but there’s still darkness all around us. And although peace on earth was the initial proclamation, we all know there’s a long way to go. And so in one way, Christmas reminds us that things are still not the way they should be.
But at the same time, Christmas also reminds us that the way things are now is not the way they will always be. Christmas marks a monumental moment in history that brought hope that one day the brokenness of the world will be restored, and the reign of darkness shattered. And not just a generic hope, grounded in platitudes and wishful thinking. But a hope grounded in the events of real people in a real past, and the birth of a real baby that really did change the course of history.
Christmas is a crucial part of a larger story, but it’s not the last chapter. But it does provide hope for those who continue to long for that day when things will finally be made right.