Malachi 3:1-4, 2 Peter 3:8-14, Luke 1:5-25

We begin a new Church Year boldly begging for the advent of our risen Lord Jesus, His final coming to rescue and save us. Our boldness, however, is tempered with the humility of faith that says, “Nevertheless, Thy will be done.” For we know and even expect that His answer to our prayer will be hidden in mystery. It may be the mystery of our continued cry for mercy or the surprise of His final advent as victorious Lord and Judge of all. It was in the mystery and surprise of the announcement of an unexpected child to Zechariah that hope first broke on our world. So today we pray with bold humility and confidence for His coming and deliverance always appears with an unexpected hope.