December 11, 2024

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“…but in the future, He will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan: ‘The people walking in darkness have seen a great light and on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy…’” (Isaiah 9.1b-3a)

REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD during the Second Week of Advent 2024:

Why do we find ourselves “without peace”? Do you think that it is usually because we are without an affirming and encouraging relationship bound in the goodness of God? I do. You find this reality right in the midst of the birth narratives with Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and King Herod. In the stories of the first four there is an angelic presentation of “what makes for peace.” Angels are introduced as God’s messengers of, as in the words to the shepherds, “Good news of a great joy.” There is also the command to “not be afraid.” The greeting in Hebrew is “shalom.” It can be commonly understood in much the same manner as “aloha” in the language and practice of the Pacific Islanders to be both “hello and farewell.” There is far more to the greeting than simple salutations. It is the creation of an environment of “peace.” Such peace comes with the sharing of knowledge that is beneficial and an assurance of goodwill. We can consider angels, then, to be “messengers of authentic peace.” In Isaiah 52.7, we are provided such an insight as it declares, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of Him [some interpret it as “those” to represent the ones, such as disciples, who act under His authority] that brings good tidings.” The creation of such a culture and climate can be defined as “bringing light into the darkness.” John’s gospel introduction, as close to a “birth narrative” as he would get, says “In Him was life, and that life was the light of all humankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1.4-5) The darkness is the opposite of light. In the darkness there is no good news, there is no authentic salutation and there is no peace. There is only anger, hatred, bitterness, strife, chaos, brokenness, misinformation, dysinformation and the absence of a “good” life. The elements of a “good” life may exist in the darkness but who could see it without the light. This is reflection upon the very creation story which begins the journey of Israel to be “a light to the nations.” Matthew brings this journey to light with the introduction of the Magi who follow a unique star from the kingdoms in which they serve to where they will find “He who has been born King of the Jews.” They come to share peace, good news and a great hope which was found in the fulfillment of scripture. They are not Jewish but Gentiles. They are like the first missionaries and evangelists of the gospel more than they are emissaries of foreign nations. They are filled with the light of God’s word which casts out all fear.

Well, almost all fear! Where Zechariah, Mary, Joseph and the shepherds were calmed by the words of the angels of the Lord, the Magi brought fear into the life of King Herod. Of course, Herod was already a troubled person. He had come to Judea and Jerusalem literally “by the Way of the Sea.” It was a road which connected two continents, Asia and Africa, which ran along the Mediterranean Sea. Herod had created a number of building projects “along the way” to promote himself and to bring honor to Rome. He was a geo-political ruler appointed by Caesar to have authority over Judea because he was part Jewish. This was supposed to create a “working relationship.” But, Herod’s troubled past mentally, physically and spiritually actually made him more of a threat than a solution. There was no “peace” in his shalom. When the Magi arrived in Jerusalem expecting to find their “King of the Jews,” nothing could have been further from the truth. Herod had no knowledge of the ancient texts. Herod had no pretext for preparing a way for anyone else to become king in his place. He was rooted in jealousy, fear and chaos. Let’s be honest, Herod was more than chaotic. Herod was murderous and the stench of death hung on him like a decaying, soiled robe. The announcement of the Magi’s “shalom” only raised the fear level of Herod. He had no intention of worshipping nor affirming a new king. He had murder on his mind to protect his place on the throne. He had already killed to protect “his” throne so it doesn’t seem impossible that he would do it again. These messengers, “angels of good news” if you will, from foreign nations came bearing gifts and salutations of peace. Their greeting did not calm Herod. It incited him. And such is the case with the gospel, much as we would read at the close of Isaiah, chapter 8. In those verses, we are told that the “truth which God presents” will be a stumbling block to the self-righteous and a stepping-stone to those who pursued God. Jesus warned His disciples of this fearful truth. Isaiah and his disciples (the witness of his own children) were evidences of that truth as their names bore witness to what God had said, was saying and would continue to say.

And one of those fearful truths was the expansion of God’s kingdom on earth to include the Gentiles, i.e. the rest of the world, in the blessing of God for “His” people. What made for peace in that light was that everyone had to be Jewish to be a “person of God.” Already, the promise of the Messiah was a threat and a stumbling block to that understanding. That understanding existed because bad theology was accepted as good truth. We can see Herod is threatened by “outsiders,” the Magi, even when it is an “insider,” Jesus, who is the real outsider. Consider the “outsider/insider” Jesus. His kingdom, by His own profession, was not of this world. Yet, His scriptural title was “King of kings, Lord of lords, Prince of Peace, Mighty God, Everlasting Father upon whose shoulders the governance of the world would rest.” (Isaiah 9.6) That would make Jesus the “complete” ruler and sovereign presence not only in Israel but of the whole world. For many in today’s world, that truth is a threat to a way of life which does not honor God and which brings death to God’s people. Even in the Christmas “celebration” there is more chaos than peace. It happens because people are out of relationship with the One True God. Even when the One True God made such a relationship not only visible, by the witness of Jesus Christ, but possible, by the grace and mercy of God to forgive and redeem and reconcile. We, mighty ones of God, are called to be “messengers of peace” as disciples of Christ. We are to be in the world but not of it because our home is not of this world but of the Kingdom of God. Jesus is the key and the gate which leads to eternal life. This is the message of Advent and the gifting of Christmas which should come from our words and actions. It should strike fear in the heart, mind and spirit of those who love the darkness and hate the light. In us a light has dawned which the darkness cannot consume. Let this light of peace shine as a city on a hill which cannot be hidden. May this light bring great joy of a good news for all people.

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, before we were conceived in the womb, You had already formed us in Your love and by Your Spirit brought us into being. Each one of us is blessed with the opportunity of doing right, being good and producing the fruit of the Spirit in order that others be fed the truth of that same love so that the two will become one. It is our soul’s sincere desire to embrace the oneness You have in mind so we would know we are Your people and You are our God. Lead us in that discovery of the truth and the manifestation of that love for us all. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN.