Second Sunday of Advent – December 7, 2024

As you have already heard, the inspiration for this year’s Advent theme comes from the angels’ message in the first two chapters of Luke: “Do not be afraid!” It’s an instruction that God gave to the people throughout their history, and it’s a message that God continues to give us today. Regardless of our ability to hear it and follow it, the instruction is still there.

This second week of Advent, we are called to explore what it looks like to bring peace in the face of fear. We gather at the center of Christ’s peace to acknowledge that the Prince of Peace is here, making his home in our hearts. When we are at peace, our hearts are not afraid. When we are at peace, violence and hate lose their footholds.

The whole month of December has a way of smashing whatever small amount of peace we’re hanging onto—the search for perfect gifts, the attempt at perfect outdoor lighting displays, or the added stress of spreading the seasonal flu/covid/viral bug with a quick visit to someone you haven’t seen in months.  Let’s see if God will meet us this week with some new sense of the peace that is promised to you.

Just like last week, I’m going to ask a question and give you a few seconds to answer it. You don’t have to answer out loud, but come up with an answer for yourself in the brief silence that follows. Where do you feel a lack of peace right now? 

Asking for more peace right now probably feels like searching for a parking place outside of the store right now or being able to travel from Main Street to Maple in less than five minutes – it’s just not going to happen. It seems like the best that we can do is to simply close our eyes and remember “that one time” we felt peace this year – maybe if we’re being honest, it was back in January or February?

I think that when many of us feel anxious or overwhelmed, we search for peace by checking out. Last week during the service, I found myself blanking on the words of the Lord’s Prayer – who hasn’t done that? Or right in the middle of something for work, I’ll open a new tab in the browser and search for a Christmas gift on Amazon. I think it’s my way of saying to myself that my circuits are completely overloaded and I need to shut down and reboot. But the truth is that even if I successfully distract myself, those 5 or 10 minutes I spent never deliver any greater sense of real peace.

But friends, our way to peace actually opened with the birth of Jesus on the first Christmas. The angels who announced Christ’s birth said: “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests’” (Luke 2:13-14).

The question is, who are these lucky people on whom the favor of God rests? It might sound like peace might be only for a special few, but that’s not right… The peace announced at the first Christmas is a unique peace that only God can offer, but it’s for anyone who will take it.

Jesus explicitly said that he could and would give peace, but also the way he’d give it to us wouldn’t be through the circumstances around us. “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).

Through his life on earth, Jesus would often tell those with whom he’d interacted to “go in peace.” It wasn’t a funny way of saying goodbye. It was an acknowledgment that this person had been given the chance to walk away in peace. In fact, Jesus seemed to prioritize this peace even over the physical healings he did—as though fixing their circumstances wasn’t the big deal. Somehow more important was the fact that they were now in harmony with God.

In the story of Jesus healing the bleeding woman in Mark (5:25-34), we read that he said, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” Her faith was the spark for her healing and peace. Her faith led to peace. Her peace ended her suffering. The kind of peace that Jesus gives comes only when we respond, move, or act in a move of faith that shows that we believe Jesus is really the savior. We are given the peace only if we see who Jesus is and come to him in faith.

In the Gospels, we hear that these were the people who didn’t just think nicely of him. They stood up. They called out. They raised their hands. They pushed through the crowd. They cried at his feet. They recognized his authority. They asked for forgiveness. And because of it, they walked away with peace. These are the people “on whom his favor rests.”

And we can be with them… What would it look like to come to Jesus in faith right now, no matter the circumstances we face? What if you made a bold move to say to Jesus, “I’ve come to you because you are the only one who can save me.”?

Because here’s the truth: We all want peace. But most of the time we want peace as the world gives it: the peace of better life-circumstances, the peace of a smooth project or marriage, the peace that really just adds up to our health, safety, comfort, and happiness. But Jesus said he doesn’t give peace that way. He gives it to the ones who risk anything to just walk up to him right in the middle of their pain and ask. And he gives it to those who do it like a kid—humble, wide-eyed, maybe even hesitant or through tears. Jesus gives peace to those who come to the point that they truly believe that he – and only he – is the answer to what they are looking for.

God of peace, who hates violence and war, we gather in peace, pray for peace, and make space for peace in our community. We bring peace because you bless peacemakers. We bring peace because Jesus is the Prince of Peace. We bring peace because even though we disagree and even argue with one another, our hearts are united in our love for you. Enrich us daily with the peace of your presence. And in your presence, we are not afraid. Amen.