Advent 2 – A Place for Peace

Luke 1: 78-79 “By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

The holiday season is not generally thought of as a peaceful time. We are often stressed about getting everything done: the shopping, the baking, the wrapping, the visiting, etc… Our world is not a peaceful place either. Groups and peoples always in conflict, over power, money, control, land, and religion. It can feel like we are always at odds with someone or something.

At Christmas, we celebrate the first coming of Jesus, the one called the Prince of Peace. The Prince of Peace showed us new ways to be in relationship with God and each other. Through Jesus and his love for the world, God gave us a plan where there can be peace in our souls, peace in our relationships, peace within our community, peace between nations, and peace among those with differing opinions and interests. As we celebrate this season, may we all be a little more patient, a little more understanding, and a little more compassionate as we make a place for peace.