Today is the second Sunday of Advent—the Sunday of Peace. In a world where wars are waging, people are dying and injustice runs rampant, a Sunday dedicated to peace seems strangely small and inadequate…
Today the lectionary points us to the story of Zechariah as chronicled in the gospel of Luke. Zechariah spent 9months unable to speak prior to the birth of his son—the child who would become “John the Baptist”. He had experienced something so powerful that he was struck mute until his child was circumcised and he was able to speak for the first time. When he spoke, he offered a prophetic word about the coming of Christ.
Luke 1: 68-79
68“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. 69He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David, 70as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. 72Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, 73the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us 74that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 75in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins. 78By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, 79to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Zechariah, in those 9 silent months, came to know peace and it was from that peace that he was able to see what lied ahead—the birth of Jesus and the coming of light and life to the world.
The lighting of the Advent candle of peace is a reminder that...there is hope of peace.
So, here we stand, a mere 2 weeks away from Christmas—2 weeks away from the celebration of the birth of that most special child and we are surrounded by everything BUT peace. PEACE???? Are you kidding me? Where is the peace?
There are reports of war and terrorism every time you turn on the television or radio.
There are murders and rapes happening every moment.
Our president speaks of continuing a painful and ugly war until “victory”.
Children are killing other children.
People are homeless and hungry.
Violence and anger abound.
All the while, “Peace on Earth, good will to men” blasts from the speakers pointed at harried hurried shoppers spending money they don’t have on presents people don’t need.
This is not a picture of peace.
If you are looking for peace this season, don’t look out there… look within. The lighting of the advent candle of peace is a reminder that even in the middle of this world, in the midst of all the chaos, there is the hope of peace. If we look internally, we can find a deep and lasting inner peace that will sustain us through this time of waiting and anticipation.
But how?
Tune out and tune in.
Well, I guess that’s a harder question to answer, and there isn’t really a magic prescription for finding inner peace. I guess for me the two biggest steps are “tune out” and “tune in.” Tune out: tune out all of the pre Christmas baloney and hype. Tune out the “mega sales” and the “blank number of shopping days left” and the incessant stream of bad renditions of classic Christmas songs. Tune in: tune into curling up with your family and watching Christmas classics—Charlie Brown, Christmas Carol, The Christmas Story, listen to Bing Crosby and Handel’s Messiah. Pull out your bible and read about Zechariah, Elizabeth, Joseph and Mary. Read some children’s stories. Take a load of “stuff you don’t need” to Goodwill, give canned goods to your local food pantry, tune in to the opportunities to be a beacon of peace in an otherwise peace-less world.
Find the inner peace that helps you see what lies ahead this season…the celebration of the birth of the one who would “give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace”, the Prince of Peace, Emmanuel.