In The Way Of Peace
Elaine Poproski Download: Audio
Sunday Reflection
Read Don Hu’s reflection, titled, “Joined with God” from Sunday’s worship service. You’ll find it in the Sunday Reflections blog.
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 11:1 – 9 (NRSV)
A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. Read more…
Scripture Reading: Matthew 3:1 – 12 (NRSV)
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Read More…
Looking to Sunday
by Elaine Poproski
As I consider this Sunday’s words from Isaiah 11, I’m comforted. The words paint a picture of God’s kingdom, for which we wait, in which the wolf lies with the lamb, a child leads the ferocious beasts of the world, and there is no violence or hurt to be seen anywhere. The prophet similarly paints a portrait of the coming Messiah, who will be all about righteousness, justice, and equality. When the images on my news feed gets to be too much, Isaiah gives me respite. This Sunday – the Advent Sunday of Peace – I want that respite.
But then I flip my Bible’s pages to another of this Sunday’s readings. It’s a reading from Matthew 3. It’s a scene in which another prophet stands yelling and shouting at the curious crowd, calling them names, challenging their sense of self, and threatening destruction. Where’s the peace here? Can’t we go back to Isaiah 11 and stay there? Do we really have to engage with John the Baptist in his wild clothes and wilderness diet?
This is the tension of Advent. We look ahead to an idyllic, utopian end when God’s kingdom will be the only kingdom; when Jesus’ reign will be undisputed and all creation will kneel before Him and call Him Lord. But in the waiting that Advent calls us to, we acknowledge that that time is not yet. And not only that, but we also acknowledge that we aren’t yet ready for that time. We are the crowds called out by John in the wilderness, confronted with our own violence and hatred, even if we’ve become adept at hiding that part of ourselves. Advent calls us to repent and get out of the way of God’s peace in our world.
As you prepare for Sunday, I invite you to consider these words of Jesus:
“You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:21 – 24).