World, church, and local events continue to challenge our faith. This is all the more reason to continue to come together and find encouragement and hope in God’s word, sacraments, and our faith community. We are people of hope who are called to persevere, even in the midst of confusion and darkness, as we wait for what is to come. We are asked to repent, especially from our tendency to fall into doubt and despair. We are asked to repent and place our trust in Isaiah’s words that God’s world of innocence will be restored. We need to hear John the Baptist’s words today more than ever: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is a hand!” Rather than being disappointed by what human beings and world cannot give, let us commit anew to what God can and will provide.