“May we be in this world a ray of that light which shone forth from Bethlehem, bringing joy and peace to the hearts of all men and women.” – Pope Francis
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
10 because You will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
nor will You let Your faithful one see decay.
11 You make known to me the path of life;
You will fill me with joy in Your presence,
with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.
Psalm 16: 9-11
We lined up against the church’s inside walls, the pews full of those who came to hear our concert. After performing on stage, we moved to surround the audience for our final song. They waited, unsure of what we were doing, some feeling awkward at our closeness. Our director allowed the silence to sit among us all and then, one note hung in the air. He took a breath, raised his arms and we sang “Peace, peace, peace on Earth and good will to all. This is a time for love. This is a time for joy. Now let us all sing together of peace, peace, peace on Earth.“ It never failed to inspire awe and reverence. Harmonized voices singing acapella and the acoustics of the sanctuary all combined to make us feel safe and calm, while turning our hearts and thoughts heavenward.
Oh, if only that feeling of peace could endure. Outside those walls, harsh realities wait for us. For some of us more than others, to be sure, as we battle with sickness, trauma and pain. Perhaps we are in a season of personal joy but recall seasons when things were different or we fear for the future when things may turn for the worse.
Shining through all that is Christ’s peace, and because of that, we can face our lives with “the unshakable sureness that the Lord will come, to set our life in God’s order.” (Alfred Delp) The world today needs people who, though shaken by the world’s hardships, have emerged with the surety and confidence that the Lord preserved them. Any one of us can look back at times of trial and see how His hand gripped them.
Recalling his faithfulness gives us peace and it expands when we share that peace with others. One man recently told me how he saw God’s protections in his darkest days. I recalled a similar story. Together we affirmed the Lord’s presence and peace as we live with those stories, having them within us to remind us of his promises.
“Rejoice for the Lord is near.” That was not only for those days before Christ’s birth; it is for all time. It is for us today. He is near us. Blessed are we when we feel it palpably, but even when we don’t, He is. He is skin deep, he rides on every pump of our blood. His presence brings us peace – it did in our past, it does in our present, it will in our future.
Joy to the Earth, the Savior reigns
Let all their songs employ
Our Savior does indeed reign! Because of that, we each have a song we can employ – a song of his faithfulness, a song of a peace that’s settled deep within us as he’s made himself known to us in our darkest hours. He says, “I am here. I am with you always.” That enables us to be a single ray of the light he brought to Bethlehem that still shines today. In this Advent season, may we shine that light, signifying his peaceful reign – in our hearts now and in his kingdom on Earth soon.
The second candle on the Advent wreath represents Peace. Like the first candle, it is also purple. Often called the “Bethlehem Candle,” the second Advent candle reminds us of building on the meaning of the Prophecy Candle. This second candle recalls that after all of the division, destruction, and dispersion of the kingdom in the Old Testament, there might finally be peace on Earth – Jesus is coming, and so is his Kingdom of Peace. As we read in the quote from Pope Francis, this light of peace shone forth from Bethlehem for all the world.
Prophecy: 5 The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
He will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore. Psalm 121
How do we stay focused on Jesus this season? Counter to our culture’s message, retain your focus on Christ by simplifying. Loretta Ross-Gotta, an American author and chaplain suggests that with all the intensity and strain that many of us bring to Christmas, it may suggest to onlookers that we have not gotten the point of it. Perhaps she’s right. Instead of doing something, be something this Christmas. Be a quiet center of peace, a dwelling for God.
Prayer: Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. From The Book of Common Prayer
If this post has blessed you, please consider sharing it. May you find that quiet center of peace this Christmas season. Sue
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