Advent – Peace
The phrase “peace on earth and goodwill toward men” is common throughout the Holiday season. But this familiarity strips the idea of peace of its power reducing it to sentimentality or inner calm. The Story of Christmas tells of a Peace far better, far more robust, and far more powerful. May we not be distracted with anything else.
Advent
Advent consists of the four Sundays preceding Christmas Day in which the Church anticipates the future arrival of Christ by remembering His first arrival.
Although it may seem counter to the festivities of Christmas, it is important to practice waiting.
And in our waiting we focus on the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love along with the rest of the global church
10 ‘Don’t be afraid,’ the angel said to them. ‘Look: I’ve got good news for you, news which will make everybody very happy. 11 Today a savior has been born for you—the Messiah, the Lord!—in David’s town. 12 This will be the sign for you: you’ll find the baby wrapped up, and lying in a feeding-trough.’
13 Suddenly, with the angel, there was a crowd of the heavenly armies. They were praising God, saying, 14 ‘Glory to God in the highest, and peace upon earth among those in his favor.’ –Luke 2:10-14
“If you try to point out something to a dog, the dog will often look at your finger instead of at the object you’re trying to point to. This is frustrating, but it illustrates a natural mistake we all make from time to time. It’s the mistake many people make when reading the Christmas story.” -N.T. Wright
Our familiarity with the word peace or the idea of peace on earth, has kept us from understanding the real message of Advent.
God’s peace comes from costly obedience.
God’s peace is disruptive.
“When we feel peace in this world, it is probably because we are drifting with the cultural moment.” - Pastor Jon Tyson
“The safest road to hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.” -C.S. Lewis
God’s peace is antifragile.
“Antifragility is beyond resilience or robustness. The resilient resists shocks and stays the same; the antifragile gets better.” -Nassim Nicholas Taleb
“Sooner or later if we follow Christ we have to risk everything in order to gain everything. We have to gamble on the invisible and risk all that we see and taste and feel. But we know the risk is worth it because there is nothing more insecure than this transient world.” -Thomas Merton
God’s peace is miraculously ordinary.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” -John 16:33
The question remains, do we want this real peace? And if so, are we willing to open ourselves up to it, up to Jesus?
