Sermons for the Month
Let Peace Begin With Me
DATE: December 9th, 2007
SERVICE: Second Sunday In Advent
TEXT: Isaiah 11:1-10; Matthew 3:1-12“To all of you Saints here this morning, grace and peace to you from God our Father, from His Son, Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit. AMEN
Today's readings certainly support the theory I proposed last week that, compared to what's going on in our culture, the observance of Advent in the church is quite counter-cultural. Last week it was Jesus Christ who is coming to town instead of Santa Claus and Jesus as a thief who arrives without warning depicted on our Christmas cards. Today the counter-cultural images include that wild man John the Baptist in the Gospel reading, and in the first lesson, the image of a world at peace. Can you imagine a Christmas card with John the Baptist on it with these words above his head, "You brood of vipers?" As Kevin Baker points out in his Advent study, we want to hear about "angels singing, not vipers slithering; about shepherds keeping watch over their flocks, not trees crashing to the ground and being turned into ashes…." (1) Somehow the image of a powerful Jesus with a winnowing fork in his hand does not fit with the sweet baby in a manger of the nativity sets we display in our homes. And, people coming to the wilderness to repent and be baptized in preparation for the Messiah's arrival is far different from the way we prepare, even in the church where we gather on Wednesdays for a potluck meal and a quiet devotional time. Why focus on John the Baptist? Perhaps the purpose of remembering this preparer of the way is to remind us that more is expected of us this Christmas. For John, being on the way begins with repentance that leads to changed lives. I could say a great deal about that word repent; it was used frequently by the Old Testament prophets to urge Israel to return to a right relationship with God. In that tradition, then, John is urging his listeners to make a radical break with their sinful past and turn again to God. But, it also means more than turning away from sin, it is to not only think differently, but also act differently. It involves turning around, taking a new direction, changing one's heart, making new commitments in order to participate in the new reign of God that has arrived in Jesus. (2) As people change their hearts and their direction it will make an impact and the world will become more like the one described in the beautiful words of the Prophet Isaiah. John the Baptist may not end up on our Christmas cards, but the image offered in the first lesson is often shared this time of year. In that passage we are reminded that a king is coming whose royal roots can be traced all the way back to Jesse and his son the great King David. But, the coming one is a different sort of King, he will initiate a new reign of righteousness and peace. (3) In this kingdom, wolves and lambs, calves and lions will be friends. Predators will no long stalk their prey, and the prey will no longer live in fear. In this poetic way the Prophet is representing the hostilities that exist among people, intending us to picture a world where people live at peace with each other. It's a world where sin no longer creates hostilities that separate one person or group or nation from another, a world where people are able to acknowledge one another as friends. Can we even imagine a world where there are no longer such things as enemies or enmities? (4) When Jesus comes again, this dream will become the reality. In the meantime, as we stressed last week, we are the bearers of the light, the peace-makers. I was in sixth grade, I believe, when we sang the song, "Let There Be Peace On Earth" in a school concert. You know it, I'm sure, "Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me." The problem is that the song never details exactly what that means. How can peace begin with me? The Apostle Paul offers some insight in Romans 12; segments of the last part of the chapter advise: "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do no claim to be wiser than you are. Do no repay anyone one evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourself, but leave room for the wrath of God…. No, if you enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink…. Do no be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Now, you have to admit that if we all followed those directives our world would be more like the peaceable kingdom of Isaiah 11. And, if world leaders and governments took this seriously we would not be praying each week for peace, while at the same time doubting it will come, human nature being what it is. Peace on earth seems like a never-to-be-fulfilled dream. I was saddened by the report on the television program "60 Minutes" last Sunday about the plight of Christians in Iraq. Before the war, Christians in that Muslim country were allowed to practice their faith without much interference, as long as they did not attempt to convert Muslims to Christianity. But, their churches were visible; people gathered for worship and were not, for the most part, persecuted for their faith. However, since the war began - due to the sectarian violence and rise of religious extremists - the Christian church has gone into hiding and its members are subject to violent persecution. As I watched that report it occurred to me that our sisters and brothers in faith in Iraq may be reading the very same scripture passages we read today during this Advent season. But, their preparation to celebrate the birth of Jesus occurs in an atmosphere of fear and the picture of harmony painted by Isaiah is indeed a distant reality. In the face of such a disconcerting situation, we must claim our role as bearers of the light, as peace-makers. So, even though it seems futile, we pray for peace. We repent and live changed lives. We teach our children about being light-bearers, helping them to grasp that the words we read from Romans 12 are not "pie-in-the-sky" dreaming but what is the norm for followers of Jesus. We apply our faith - based on the teaching of Jesus - to our political stance. And, in all we do, we strive to make the Prophet's poetic vision more and more of a reality before it actually happens when we welcome our Lord as he comes in glory. Last week I ended my sermon by having you complete a song. I want to do so again today, but this time I want the lyrics to be a prayer from our hearts. Please fill in the last three words. Let there be peace on earth, and let it __________ _______ ______. (1) Advent 2007: Hail the Heaven Born by Kevin Baker, 2007 by Abingdon Press, pgs. 22-23
(2) Sermonwriter, Advent 2A, Matthew 3:1-12, pg. 3, www.sermonwriter.com
(3) Same as #1, pg. 17
(4) Sermonwriter, Advent 2A, Isaiah 11:1-10, pg. 7, www.sermonwriter.com
AMEN