The world's buffet offers heaping piles of excess, indulgence and self-absorption, and we often gorge ourselves on its temporary tastiness. But when we’re finished stuffing ourselves, we scratch our heads at the paradox of full stomachs and empty hearts.

Read: Psalm 71:5, Psalm 71:14, Luke 15:11-24 & John 12:13

The world offers a daily buffet of inadequate options for satisfaction and fulfillment. It cannot offer hope. When we slide up to the bar of possible choices, we find the trays labeled “hope” and “peace” empty. Aside from those unavailable dishes, the buffet is plentiful this time of year. There are heaping piles of excess, indulgence and self absorption, and we often gorge ourselves on the temporary tastiness. But when we’re through, we scratch our heads at the paradox of full stomachs and empty hearts.

Jesus is everything we need to be full and complete. He is our hope, our peace, our joy and our salvation. The term “Hosanna” captures that well. “Hosanna”, as used in the Gospels when Jesus makes his final entrance into Jerusalem, communicates a cry for salvation mingled with a confident hope for deliverance. It is a beautiful blend of desperation, expectancy and praise. It is as if the people lining the way and waving palm branches are exclaiming, “We know we need a Savior. We fully believe you are our hope.” 

We can easily be seduced by the delectable aroma of worldly distraction—much like the Prodigal Son. He left his father’s kitchen to feast at the buffet, but his emptiness and hunger drove him home to a Father of hope, peace, joy and salvation.