Advent 2016 - The Season of Peace

Advent Week 2 

This week we light the second candle on the Advent wreath.

“We light this candle in peace; Jesus is our peace.”

Isaiah 11:1-10

"A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins. The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder's den. They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious."

Reflection

Peace is more, 

More than the absence of conflict;

     Peace is presence.

Peace is more,
More than an external force "out there" exerting its power; 

     Peace is internal.

Peace is more,

More than personal contentment. 

     Peace is transformation.

The peace the Advent of the Christ Child brings is more. More than simple definitions. More than holiday cards covered in glitter and illuminated lawn signs. More than tie-dyed symbols and two fingers lifted skyward. The peace that comes with the birth of this awaited one changes everything. This peace turns that which we thought we knew upside down. This peace threatens to break through our fractured existence and birth wholeness, completeness, shalom. This peace is for all of creation and for every creature. This peace is the way of the Lord where all things are brought together and there is no more division. With the advent of this peace "the wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox." This peace will not allow anything to remain the same...not me...not you.

"On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious."

Activity

This week, make a list of those people and situations in your life, your neighborhood, and your world that need peace.  

Make a second list throughout the week of places where you see or experience peace.

Consider how you might be someone who brings witness to peace.  

Find a service project to participate in that gives birth to peace.

Christmas Benevolence

Christmas Benevolence needs your help shopping with our neighbors. There are opportunities throughout week. 

Check out all of the opportunities to serve throughout December at www.secondchurch.org/cb.