Wednesday, November 30, 2022 – Advent Two
“We hoped for
peace, but no peace came. We hoped for a time of healing, but found only
terror.” (Jeremiah 8:15 New
Living Translation)
I am sure that I do not need to recount
the troubling list of things which are going on in our world which disturb the
peace. One can almost compare our modern times with Jesus’ most alarming warnings.
“When you hear of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don’t panic.
This is routine history, and no sign of the end. Nation will fight nation and
ruler fight ruler, over and over. Earthquakes will occur in various places.
There will be famines. But these things are nothing compared to what’s coming.”
(Mark 13: 7-8, The Message Bible)
The daily news makes many of us
restless, anxious, fretful, fearful, frustrated, disappointed, uneasy and troubled.
Add to all that our personal cares and worries, peace is a hard experience to
come by.
The OT prophets were not fortune
tellers. Rather they were keen and inspired observers of the culture in which they
lived, severe critics of broken politics and kingdoms, the disparity of the
economy between rich and poor, the abuse of justice, the superficiality and phoniness
of religion, and mostly the utter abandonment of God and God’s covenantal principles.
They, too, lived in very restless and unpeaceful times.
How could there be any peace in
a world that so distained the Love and the Guidance of that Love? Why do we
think we can do any better?
Jermiah criticized “the superficial
treatments for my people’s mortal wound. They give assurances of peace when
there is no peace.” (Jeremiah 6;14m NLT) We are reminded then to be wary of
the honeyed promises of politicians, the smooth-talking preacher, the sweet
allure of consumerism, the enticements of false messiahs and their fake news.
Just when we might be ready to
give up on true peace, there is a New Voice crying in this wilderness: “I am
leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift
the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27, NLT)
We’re not left bereft or alone
to face either the present or the future, as people without hope. There is a New
Voice that stills the storms. There is a Presence that rises above the din and turmoil
and dares speak the holy word of Peace – in fact, embodies a passion for peace
in every fibre if his being.
But let us not cheapen this
Peace with easy definitions. Jesus’
Peace is costly, and therefore precious in its intent. This Peace arises out of
our resistance to all forms of sin and evil. This Peace stands against all forms
of corruption, injustice, prejudice and hatred and sometimes bleeds in its undertaking.
This Peace speaks against the wars and violence of this world and often carries
the scars of its message.
This is no easy Peace but that fact
does not make Peace impossible. Peace is the reward of long journeys and bumpy
roads. Peace comes in our endurance of tough things. Peace comes when we learn
from our failures. Peace comes when we are at the end of our tether and a helping
hand comes out of nowhere. Peace comes when grief and sorrow are shared in the
context of God’s Love and Mercy, when we understand that no matter what, we are
not orphaned, not alone.
Not peace as the world gives, superficial,
temporary at best, empty at its worst. Peace as only Jesus the Messiah can give.
A source of strength, patience, endurance, perseverance and love. This is a
Peace which rallies the mind, soul and spirit. In his Peace, Jesus speaks our
name and draws us more closely to him. Peace is our trust and faith that his
Spirit abides throughout these times.
Hang on. Better yet, hold on.
“Oh! May the God of green
hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing
lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over
with hope!” (Romans 7:13 The Message Bible)
Dale
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