Peace With and In
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests. Luke 2:11-14
On the second Sunday of Advent, many churches lit the second candle in the traditional Advent wreath. This candle symbolizes peace. Many reflected on scriptures about the peace God promised and ushered in during the first advent of Jesus (his birth), and the cosmic peace that will be consummated by Christ’s second coming.
We know that Christ came to usher in a new era, and that by dying in our place, we can by faith “have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). Now we can experience the peace of God. This peace is not the absence of conflict or having a stress-free, calm life. This peace is not a result of our circumstances, but a result of our relationship with God, through faith in Christ. The Holy Spirit indwells us and gives us this transcendent peace.
As we continue our Advent journey, we can pray to experience this peace more fully. We can pray for opportunities to share this peace with family and friends because we are called to actively make peace as we await the fullness of God’s peace through the second Advent of Jesus Christ.
How can you help usher in God’s peace this Christmas season? Some ideas might be to set aside extra time for personal devotions, help a busy or overburdened friend, or provide a meal for a family facing the anxiety of hunger. Advent is the perfect time to commit to pursuing peace in your life and that of the greater world as we look ahead to the arrival of The Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.
Lord may we be conduits of Your peace in this busy time of year, help us to share the peace, presence and love of Christ.