Advent Day 9: Heavenly Peace

𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝘆 𝗗𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲:⁣ https://tinyurl.com/yysjvwjm⁣ ⁣ 𝗣𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗺 𝟮𝟳 𝗜𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗮𝗵 𝟮𝟲:𝟳-𝟭𝟱 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝟮:𝟯𝟳-𝟰𝟮⁣ ⁣ 𝘈𝘤𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘗𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘥.⁣ –St. Seraphim of Sarov⁣ ⁣ As countless carols, films, and family customs fill the season, it is easy to pass through these weeks bathed in a warm, nostalgic glow. As we sing each year, “All is calm, all is bright.” And while we can joyfully celebrate this season as one of “heavenly peace,” we shouldn’t too quickly associate this peace with undisturbed tranquility. In truth, the Incarnation of Christ was anything but calm, with earthly powers immediately disturbed and outraged by the birth of this newborn king (Mt. 2).⁣ ⁣ Peace is not the absence of conflict but is the presence of God in the midst of chaos. The psalmist reminds us of this, saying, “Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident” (Ps. 27:3). They knew in their bones something we are daily prone to forget: peace is not circumstantial but is given freely by God as a gift. It is therefore possible to live in deeply painful and disorienting seasons and yet remain a person of profound peace.⁣ ⁣ There is a persistent temptation to tie inner peace to outer calm. And while some chapters of life are simpler or less stressful than others, we can never guarantee a life free from all conflict or distress. As Jesus himself reminds us, “In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world” (Jn. 16:33)! It does us no good to anxiously worry about the challenges we face in life. Instead, we are invited daily to live free from all fear, not as a form of blind optimism, but instead deeply rooted in the victory of God won in Jesus.⁣ ⁣ 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸⁣ 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 for ever. Amen.⁣ ⁣ 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲⁣ Often, anxiety manifests itself through a life of constant hurry. We are free from hurry when we learn to rest in the peace of God. So today, choose to fast from hurry. If you share a meal with others, make it a point to be the last to finish. Or, if making a purchase in a store, intentionally choose the longest line and learn to resist the urge to rush to the next thing!