Peace – Advent 2021

Second Sunday of Advent 5 December 2021 Readings So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord Is Peace. - Judges 6:24 (NIVUK) 1 Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer. 2 How long will you people turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? 3 Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him. 4 Tremble and do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. 5 Offer the sacrifices of the righteous and trust in the Lord. 6 Many, Lord, are asking, ‘Who will bring us prosperity?’ Let the light of your face shine on us. 7 Fill my heart with joy when their grain and new wine abound. 8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. - Psalm 4 (NIVUK) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6 (NIVUK)  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. - Matthew 5:9 (NIVUK) 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 (NIVUK) ‘I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’ - John 16:33 (NIVUK) Reflection What comes to mind when you think about peace? I’ve seen a lot of phrases about peace, watched videos and listened to music about peace. Mostly the images are with soft lighting, a heavenly sort of feel to the blurred lights. Sometimes the scenery is of nature; a quiet stream running through a forest, or a field of flowers in a mountain valley. Often we think about sleeping when we think of peace: a sleeping baby in a crib, a chubby cheeked toddler cuddled in their blanket or a puppy sleeping soundly on a pillow. But is that really peace? Is that what we are expecting as we light this week’s candle? If it is, we might need to step back and rethink what the Bible says about peace. First, and most importantly, peace is not a concept, it is a person. In the book of Judges, Gideon called God: Yahweh Shalom – God is peace. Peace is part of God’s character and there is no real lasting peace without God. The prophet Isaiah built on this concept of the God of peace by declaring that the Messiah would be the Prince of Peace – what the Father is and offers is also what the Son is and what he offers. Second, when we look through the Bible at where the word “peace” is mentioned, it is most often mentioned in a time of stress, distress, conflict and war. How is it possible to have peace in the middle of chaos? We have peace in chaos when we recognize that God is with us through the chaos. Real peace is not the absence of conflict, troubles, difficulties or even war. Peace is knowing that God is near and therefore our hearts and minds remain calm and assured in the middle of the chaos.  David often started his Psalms in the middle of an attack – either physically or on his character. He was often tormented from his enemies both within Israel and outside of it. Still, by the end of his Psalms he is tranquil and can sleep well because he knows that God is with him, always. His tormentors didn’t disappea