Advent 2 – Peace

Reflection for Advent II Peace Sunday December 10, 2023 
For Churchill and Gilford United Churches 
Krista M. Moore 

Scriptures:  
Isaiah 40:1–11 
Comfort, O comfort my people. 
Mark 1:1–8 
The preaching of John the baptizer. 

Sermon Focus Statement: God is the source of our hope; Jesus can give us peace.

Sermon Function Statement: Wait on God. Rest in God. Let Jesus give you peace.  

Introduction to the Scriptures  
In the scriptures today we learn how God will take care of us. We  don’t need to worry. One is coming who will take away the sins of the  world. The Good Shepherd will come and take care of his sheep.  Jesus is the Good Shepherd. 

But first, John the Baptist must prepare the way. He knows his time  is limited. One is coming who is greater than he is. Jesus is the Messiah,  the Savior of the World, the Prince of Peace everybody is waiting for… But while we are waiting, how can we have peace in this world?  

REFLECTION  
Last week we spoke about hope. 
Hoping and believing in something leads to good things. Like church concerts, the Nantyr Teens Triton band, and the  revitalization of the church Manse as a welcoming home and hub of  community.  

These are just a few things that started with hope and a dream.  But there is something more important I want to point to today. God’s action in our hope. God’s action in our hearts and minds that  causes us to hope and believe.  

Without God, none of it is possible.  

This week we lit the candle of Peace. 
Similarly, there is no peace without God’s peace.  
We can take a few deep breaths and try to have inner peace, but  without God’s action, without knowing God is with us, how can we  know peace? 
What truly gives us peace? What gives you peace?  
 
Peace comes from God. 

True Peace comes from knowing God is with us. That Jesus is real.  They are not just abstract concepts, feel good ideas. 

We’re not just lighting candles and saying positive sentiments  about hope and peace before Christmas to make ourselves feel good for  awhile. 

We are lighting these candles to remind us of where our true hope  and true peace come from.
 
They come from God.  

SCRIPTURE  
Last week Isaiah said to God, we are the clay, YOU are the potter.  This week Isaiah says we are the sheep, and God is the Shepherd.  In other words, we can’t do anything without God.  

We need God’s creative and redemptive action in our lives. First, God creates us – 

Jeremiah says, “God formed me in my mother’s womb.”  

We are made in the image of God.  

But then we go astray, and we need God to help us. 

Then God becomes a Shepherd, who seeks us out and nudges us  back to the flock where we are under his protection. 

So God creates us and guides and protects us.  

In Mark’s Gospel, John the baptizer offers baptism as a sign of  God’s forgiveness.  

So God also forgives us.  

But John says, his baptism is not enough.  

One Who is greater than him will come to baptize us with the Holy  Spirit. To redeem and save us forever.  

So God creates us, guides and protects us, forgives, and saves us.  That’s a lot of jobs!  

We can’t do much without God.  

Let’s think about that for a moment… 

God’s action in our lives, and God’s role in giving us hope and  peace… 

MY STORY – SICKENESS “DECREASING” 
As some of you know, I was sick the past two weeks. At the busiest  time of our church year, the Advent before Christmas.  

Prior to that I had been preparing and participating in many events  in our community. It was a wonderful time of hope, fellowship, music,  laughter, and celebration. All good things.  
But I got busy preparing, anticipating, and participating in all that  goodness. And I got sick.  
Even the act of doing a good thing, a hopeful thing can wear us out  if we’re not careful.  

The risk is thinking that it’s all up to me – that what I’m doing is so  important. No one else can do it.  

There is nothing more humbling than being sick and disappearing  for awhile. Strangely enough, things keep happening without you! But it’s a good lesson – that it’s not all up to us. Good things can  still happen when we let go and trust.
 
I had to let go of all the activity and rest. I worked from home and let other people do more. Like Prayer Yoga and Bible Study. 

I needed to rest and connect more to God. To ask Jesus what was  important. And it turns out, my resting was important! 

SCRIPTURE  
Like the John the Baptist.  

He was doing a good thing, preparing the way for Jesus.  But as important as his role was, he knew Jesus was more  important.  

He said, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me;  I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals.” That’s a humble statement.  

He knew it was not all up to him. He would have to step back and  let Jesus take over. As he said of Jesus, “He must increase; I must  decrease.” 

STORY 
When I was resting, I also had to decrease. At least for a while.

It gave me time to reflect on the purpose of these activities. To  appreciate all the good that was happening, without feeling like it was all  up to me. It never was.
 
It’s easy to get lost in a sea of activities and forget why we are  here. 

That is why ADVENT is so important. We need to slow down and  wait for Jesus. We can’t do it all alone.  

Jesus is coming.  

We are preparing the way. We are not the purpose; we are the clay. Some people say, “Jesus is the reason for the season!”  

Do we get that? Do we believe it?  

Today’s theme of Advent is PEACE. 
How can we have peace when the world is full of war and conflict? How can we have peace when we have so much to do, so much to  worry about? 

One thing I know:  

We will not have peace by worrying more or doing more. 
Nothing we DO can achieve it.  
That is why we need God.  
That is why we need a Savior,  
the One who can give us peace.
 
The most peaceful thing we can do is let go and spend some  time alone with God.  

SCRIPTURE 
God says through Isaiah , “Comfort, o comfort my people.”  
Yes, we need comfort.  
Our world needs comfort.  
But are we letting God comfort us?  
Are we resting in God and hearing God’s voice?  
Receiving God’s peace? 

The best thing we can do is turn off the world for a few  moments, or a few days, rest in God, and receive God’s peace.  Nothing else will do it.  

No amount of work, even charity, will give us the peace that we  need. 

We cannot give what we don’t have.  

We need to fill up our gas tank first. God is our fuel. Or on an  airplane, we are always cautioned to put on our own mask first before  trying to save someone else. We just can’t do it without that oxygen – in  other words, without God.  

We can let go and let God in.  

We can depend on God like sheep depend on a Shepherd.  When we are weary, downtrodden, going through a time of mourning, or dreading the next activity – we can call on God.  God will “gather us like lambs in his arms; God will carry us in  his bosom, and gently lead us.” (paraphrase of Isaiah). 

God is our hope.  
God gives us peace.  
We can rest in the Good Shepherd, Jesus: 
Who is the Prince of Peace. 
 
STORY  
So, that rest did me a lot of good. I do feel better. I feel calm.  Despite all the things I still need to do – and we all need to do – in the  next couple of weeks as Christmas draws nearer. 

Don’t even talk to me about Christmas shopping! 
I am not worried or stressed.  
I am calm and hopeful. I have peace.  
Because I know now what is important.  

Jesus is the reason we are lighting the candles of hope and peace. Jesus is REAL, a force, a Spirit, the Messiah, the Son of God, the  Lamb who takes away the sins of the world, AND the Good Shepherd who guides us.  

Jesus cradles us like lambs in his arms. 

We can rest and receive comfort from God. And experience God’s  peace. Something we can’t get from the world or our own efforts. God sent Christ as a Savior to take that burden away from us.  God did this not to belittle us but liberate us.  

We are the clay; God is the potter. 
We are the sheep; Jesus is the Shepherd.  
We do not have to do it all.  
Thank God.  
God’s will be done.  
Not my will, but THY will be done.  
That phrase alone can give us peace.  

We are in God’s hands. We are in the arms of the Shepherd who  loves and comforts us.  
Peace is a gift from God. And God’s peace comes from WITHIN. 

CLOSING  
At the tail end of my “sick leave” I received a brief visit from my Aunt who came bearing a gift.  

She had made me a beautiful quilt, in teal and gold, with butterflies  and sunflowers on it – my favourite things that remind me of the beauty  of spring and summer.  

It has the following inscription:
“Be Still and Know that I Am God,” (Psalm 40:10) which means  rest and know that God is with us. Peace is within us.  

As I curl up in its warmth, I feel God wrapping me in comfort and  love.  

A moment of peace, like Isaiah promised.A gift from God.  

These tiny moments may not offer us world peace, but they do  offer inner peace, and that is something we can achieve right now. Rest  in God and know God is with us. God’s peace is within.  FOR US

Krista’s Three Things 
So, how can we have more peace this Advent? 
1. Spend 5 minutes (or more) a day resting in God. You can use  Scripture, or jut close your eyes and pray; ask for God’s presence  to come.  
2. When you find yourself rushing or lost in activity, stop, and  remember what is important. Rest in him.  
3. If you are tempted to argue, get upset or lose your cool, laugh  instead. It isn’t that important. Give it to God. God’s peace will  come.

Jesus offers us peace.  
In John 14 and 16 he says:  
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. 

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. 
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! For I have overcome the  world.” 

No matter what is happening around us, whether it be busy  Christmas activities or war in the Middle East, Jesus is saying not to  rush, not to worry, not to fret – but to accept HIS peace. He says, “IN  ME you may have peace.”  

That means we rest IN him. We meditate on his presence, we allow  him in.  

If we do this, if we believe Jesus is there for us, giving us peace,  we will feel calm.
 
When we find inner peace, it spreads. When we are calm, those  around us can feel calm. Let us be that peace and calm in this time of  Advent. 

MEDITATION 
Let us spend a moment in prayer, and rest in Christ. Hear the words of  the Good Shepherd who offers us inner peace.  

Jesus Message:  
I am here  
I am with you  
You are not alone 
I am with you, and I will shepherd you 
You are not the savior  
I am here for you 
You are in need of me  
Don’t despair,  
there are good things happening  
In your area 
in your world  
You do not see them  
I am the good shepherd 
I will take care of the flock  
You cannot be all that I am 
I am able to do things for you  
You can follow me  
You are not alone 
I am your teacher 
I am your savior  
I give you what you need 
All good things come from me  
For I am the light in the darkness  
I am there when you give to others in need 
I lift you and them 
I give you what you need 
Think of me more often than you do  
Do not despair, see the good things that are happening 
See and know that I am there 
Guiding you all in the night.  

May we remember to rest in God and feel God’s peace.  May we be like John the Baptist who knew Christ would come and prepare the way of peace for him. 
Amen.