Advent | Peace - The Rev. Chad E. JarnaginLuke 3:1-6 English Standard Version (NRSV)The Proclamation of John the BaptistIn the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea (it-too-rea) and Trachonitis (Track-on-i-tis), and Lysanias (Lie-seen-ious) ruler of Abilene,2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas (Ki-a-fas), the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,make his paths straight. 5Every valley shall be filled,and every mountain and hill shall be made low,and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth;6and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” Luke was arguably one of the more intelligent and insightful of the Gospel writers... and he is subtly undermining the systems of this world. Luke writes that someone greater than the early kings and rulers is coming to straighten the paths and smooth out the roads... and they will be contrasted with their leaders and will be outside of the framework and systems by which we even identify ourselves today. God (I AM) actively calls us into the wilderness, where we are away from the noise and norms, but also the desired distractions and comforts. Silence can be unsettling, but it can also be more revealing than the loudest of voices. Advent is symbolically the wilderness without light. It is a time of uncertainty, waiting, and preparation.This evening, we lit the candle of Peace. The Hebrew word for peace, Shalom: Everything in its place flourishing as God intends. The word shalom is mentioned more than 250 times throughout Scripture. Peace is key to participating in the Way of Jesus. Peace is key in making the pathway straight in preparing the way or the Lord.Peace is first of all the art of being.” ― Henri Nouwen. Meaning, if we live in a way where peace is of high value, we will work toward this peace. When we know peace we can’t help but share it. We want it for everyone. There is no peace without repentance.The level in which we sense peace can depend on our pace of life and our awareness to live differently. Here is good news: Regardless of the busyness of our hearts and minds, we can have peace with God.Preparing the way by living differently may need to begin with repentance. Today, this isn’t an every day word, though it enables our hearts to prepare Him room.MUSIC by THE BRILLIANCE luminousparish.com
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