During Advent, we are looking at ways to empower one another to live lives of Kindness, Joy, Hope, Peace, Love as we prepare for Christmas. Last week we started with Kindness. This week we consider Peace.
Peace is a word often used around Advent and Christmas.
Think of the hymn “Silent Night” where the Infant is invited to “sleep in
heavenly peace” or the song “Let there be Peace on earth this Christmas” or…name
your own favorite. We are told that the Holy Babe is the Prince of Peace.
What exactly is ‘peace’? The dictionary says it’s freedom
from disturbance or a state where there is no war. Freedom from conflict of all
kinds sounds nice, but is it enough?
The Letter to the Philippians offers another perspective. Rejoice
in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to
everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by
prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to
God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard
your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, beloved, whatever is
true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is
pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything
worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you
have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will
be with you. (Philippians 4:4-9)
The peace of God is characterized by rejoicing, gentleness,
thankfulness, and prayer. It is expressed in honorable, just, pure, and
excellent living. As Micah 6:8 says it is To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
I don’t know about you, but I want that kind of peace. The
Kingdom of God peace that is joyful and just, merciful and grateful. Sounds
rather counter-cultural, especially when the secular creed for the
pre-Christmas season is to want, acquire, spend, and maybe think about the less
fortunate by donating some money or toys.
What might we do to promote God’s peace?
The Rev. Lucy Strandlund, in this week’s sermon from the
Episcopal Church Lent study Bible
Study: Advent 2 (C) – December 5, 2021
– The Episcopal Church notes, “the prophets were encouraging people to
return to God, to care for the vulnerable, to be restored in relationship
with one another, there were surely then, as now, competing voices for the
people’s attention—voices of power, greed, despair, or complacency that were
louder than the prophets’ call.” She goes on to note “John [the Baptist],
answers in Luke 3:10 when the crowds ask, “What then should we do?” by saying,
“Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has
food must do likewise.”...the crowds flocked to him, hushing as they approached
and listening. In his words, they heard restoration, justice, and hope.”
How do our words and actions speak restoration, justice,
hope?
Remember, the peace of God looks different than the world’s
peace. The hymn which starts “They cast their nets in Galilee” (William
Alexander Percy) ends by saying, The peace of God, it is no peace,/ but
strife closed in the sod,/ Yet let us pray for but one thing—/ the marvelous
peace of God.*
John, and other prophets who proclaimed the need for and way
to the Peace of God were not always honored and were often killed. As Standlund
reminds us, no matter who is proclaiming the peace and justice and mercy, “It
is the voice of God who continually invites us all to return, to care for
the vulnerable, to be in relationship with one another.”
Is there a way you can proclaim God’s way of Love and Peace
this week? It may be that you (and I) need to first “Stop intentionally for an
hour this week from the busyness and meditate on where you can find the voices
of John and Jesus through the noise.”
One way to do that might be to sit with this image of the
cross. Remember that the Prince of Peace born at Christmas died on a cross.
What price, what cross might you be called to pay in order to offer and
proclaim ‘Peace’?
*They cast their nets in Galilee/ just off the hills of
brown;
such happy, simple fisherfolk,/ before the Lord came down.
Contented, peaceful fishermen,/ before they ever knew
the peace of God that filled their hearts/ brimful, and broke them too.
Young John who trimmed the flapping sail,/homeless in Patmos died,
Peter, who hauled the teeming net,/ head-down was crucified.
The peace of God, it is no peace,/ but strife closed in the sod,
Yet let us pray for but one thing—/ the marvelous peace of God.
Next week we'll look at Joy.
