“A Growing Hope” - Jeremiah is sometimes known as the “weeping prophet” because in the city of Jerusalem, he is given visions of death and destruction that he will one day witness. The people in the city put the prophet in prison, but that did not stop the Word of God. In the oracle we will hear the first Sunday in Advent, the prophet sees further and God gives His people hope that no matter what happens, His ancient promises will not be broken. Even though the tree of Jesse’s line is dying along with the Davidic kingdom, there will be a king who restores righteousness. Jeremiah may have wept for his day, but his hope was growing with the branch who is "The Lord, our Righteousness."