Advent Sunday - Peace
“For unto us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.”
"Hurry up and wait" is a phrase used to refer to a situation in which one is forced to increase speed in order to complete a certain task, or arrive at a certain destination, by a specified time; only for nothing to happen at that time, often because other required tasks are still awaiting completion. In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, shopping becomes a challenge taken up by those brave enough to withstand the crowds and lines to achieve the goal of acquiring the right gifts for family or friends.
Shopping is an art form, especially during the holiday season. Many have circumvented the challenge via online shopping—the ability to bypass the line and have gifts delivered right to your door. Stress-free. Peaceful.
Oh, wouldn’t it be nice if life worked that way?
Select your preferred path in life, swipe past the potential roadblocks,
Curate your custom-designed look, choose your color palette and voilà!
No battling the crowds or standing in lines . . . no hurrying only to wait.
And yet, we’ve been waiting all along.
Waiting for things to calm down.
Waiting for family members to reconcile.
Waiting for wars in Ukraine and Israel to stop.
Waiting for a loved one’s recovery from illness or surgery.
Waiting for a job interview.
Waiting for a phone call.
Waiting for vacation to start.
Waiting for a plane to come home.
Waiting for the world to change.
Let there be peace on earth . . . and let it begin with me.
The second advent candle is also purple and represents peace. Peace is a central theme of the advent season but is the main focus of the second week of Advent. Often called the “Bethlehem Candle,” the second Advent candle reminds us of Mary and Joseph’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem before Mary gave birth to Jesus. The journey was long and came with its own challenges, namely, securing a room or a safe place to prepare for Jesus’ birth.
Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines peace as “a state of tranquility or quiet: such as freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions.” However, inner peace can be a little more complicated than that. Peace in your heart is a yearning for wholeness, connection, and calm.
The Hebrew word for peace is shalom. The word shalom occurs over 250 times in the Old Testament. Over the centuries, religious scholars have spilled plenty of ink reflecting on its complex meaning and use. In English, the word peace tends to mean something like “the lack of war or conflict.” And while the biblical concept of shalom encompasses this sort of peace, it is only a part of what God promised His people in the days before the first advent of Jesus Christ. Shalom includes peace, but also “wholeness, and well-being.” Shalom is the ideal—for our individual lives and for that of God’s creation at large. It’s a return to God’s original creation, before it was marred by humanity’s sin.
As we light the second candle of Advent, may we remember to actively cultivate peace as we await the fullness of God’s shalom through the second Advent of Jesus Christ.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” - John 14:27 (NASB)