27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
John 14:27
Yesterday was the second Sunday in Advent and our theme for reflecting this week is PEACE. As Jesus was leaving the Upper Room and headed to Gethsemane to pray before his arrest and crucifixion, he told his disciples that he was leaving them with peace. That sounds to me like more than a pie-in-the-sky eternal reconciliation with God that gives us ways to deal with our anxiety about eternity. That promise of eternal peace with God so that we do not need to fear death, is a huge promise we embrace. Advent, though, also points us to a quality of peace that becomes part of our lives as we anticipate the miracle of the incarnation in Bethlehem. God is not so angry about our “sin” that he cannot come close to us and walk with us. He incarnated in the Christ child! The Holy Spirit walks with us at all times, helping us to cope and trust in the midst of trauma and drama, even in places like Bethlehem. We have present peace. But we also have historical peace. The evil one loves to remind me of my past failings and faults. He loves to say I am unworthy of God’s peace. He loves to remind me “my past will catch up with me.” Advent is a time when we celebrate the coming babe that promises forgiveness for our past, promises power to live in the present, and promises an eternity of peace. Advent reminds us that in the flurry and scurry of the season, we can have a deep internal peace.
So let’s take a few minutes and create an acrostic for what peace means to you. P is for _______. E is for ______. A is for ______, and E is also for ________. Blessings as you lay your burdens at the manger. That babe understands us. Thank you, Lord.
On the Way to Wonder 