St. Willebrord Parish in Green Bay, Wisconsin shared a note from Fr. Andrew G. Cribben on the advent season. 

While it is exciting that there are vaccines being developed for COVID-19, let us not fall into the trap of thinking that this is our only hope. 

“Nonetheless, we have always had reason to hope, regardless of the 'advent' of effective vaccines. God lives. God saves. God is merciful and loving. God’s promises remain. For this reason we have hope,” Cribben wrote. 

Cribben wrote that his recent reading of the book of Lamentations is a powerful reminder that we are called to hope in something greater and larger than ourselves. 

“The writer is lamenting expressing his sorrow and that of the whole community which has suffered destruction and exile from Jerusalem. The book is dark with images of sadness and woe, except for a few verses in the text cited above. In the middle of this five-chapter book, in the middle of the third chapter, like a pivot point, is the following: ‘Remembering it over and over, my soul is downcast. But this I will call to mind. Therefore, I will hope: “The Lord is good to those who trust in him, to the one that seeks him,’” Cribben wrote. 

This year has been a trying one and now that we are at the end of the year, let us not forget that God has been faithful to us throughout the entire time. 

We need only look around and see that he has been with us always and is faithful to deliver us from the difficulties that we face in this life. 

“In the season of Advent, may we share our reasons for hopefulness with one another. Let us share our faith through good deeds, attentive communication and thoughtful prayers. The Lord’s deliverance is near,” Cribben wrote.