Advent 2

Mark 1:1-8

The second week of the season of Advent, and tradition is to light the second candle on the Advent wreath, which is called the Bethlehem candle, or the Peace Candle.
But what is this peace? Is it simply a cessation of wars of various kinds? When we use the English word ‘peace,’ what do we mean by it; quiet, serenity, prosperity, peace of mind? The ancient Hebrew concept of peace is rooted in the word “shalom,” which meant wholeness, completeness, soundness, well-being, safety and prosperity, carrying with it the implication of permanence. But even such a definition is incomplete. When things are bigger than our own comprehension, we tend to “translate” them into what we consider as understandable. The danger in doing this is that when we translate God’s acts, we are, by our limited understanding, diminishing who God is. We diminish the possibility of peace in our lives
because we diminish the One who has the power to give it to us.There is a story of a boy returning from church who tells his mother about the day’s sermon.
“Well,” said the boy, “the pastor told how God sent Moses behind the enemy lines to rescue the Israelites from the Egyptians. When they came to the Red Sea, Mose called for the engineers to build a pontoon bridge. After they had all crossed, they looked back and saw the Egyptian tanks coming. Quick as a flash, Moses radioed headquarters on his walkie-talkie to send in the bombers to destroy the bridge, and that’s how he saved the Israelites. His mother asked, “Is that really the way the pastor told that story?”
“Well, not exactly” was the reply. But if I told it as he did you’d never believe it!”
God’s peace transcends not only our understanding but our own personal lives because It comes from God. Trusting in God means recognising Him and giving Him His rightful place in our lives. Jesus Christ is that true agent of peace God provided for us, the Prince of Peace. “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)
Pastor Darryl

Photo by D A V I D S O N L U N A on Unsplash