December 9, 2025

SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT: PEACE

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I do not give it to you as the world gives, however. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14.27)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

It stands to reason, doesn’t it, that authentic peace can only come from the one who has made His ultimate peace with God for us. We have tried many times to make peace with ourselves, with others and especially with God. We confess our sins. We profess our faith. We take on regimens of prayer, Bible study and works of charity. We give offerings. We give encouragement. We give of our time and energy to help others in a time of need. We are moved by pageantry. We are moved sunsets and sunrises. We are moved when true love is expressed in the most unexpected places. Even so, there is a restlessness in our hearts, in our mind, in our bodies and in our souls which speaks to a complete peace. Are all these things more in tune with the peace as the world gives or believes it can give? Is it a conditional peace? Is it like the negotiations which happen between nations who have declared war on each other and find it is ultimately no solution for peace at all. They determine to “make” peace happen and put the conflict to rest. They compromise their goals of war and attempt to hammer out plowshares instead. They determine to cultivate instead of infiltrate. They say their will be friends, but the promise to befriend seems rarely more than the decision to betray. And who do they betray but themselves. Why? Is it because behind the facade of what makes for peace in that moment there is still unrest internally. The desire to conquer remains challenged by the fear of being conquered. So, instead of truly surrendering and see how they can help the other side, they surround. They refuse to be vulnerable and trust in the process of reconciliation. In it all, one side is saying they will not longer be the aggressor and the other side says they will believe it and no longer retaliate.

Peace, authentic peace, is not about such conditional thinking and negotiating. It is not about protecting yourself. The peace which Jesus gives is the peace He made with God for us. He demonstrated such peace when He took off His outer robe as master of the house and master of the feast. He took a small basin and filled it with water. I wonder if any of the disciples were of such a mind to remember when Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding of Cana. The large jars that were used were intended for baptismal purposes as was traditional in that culture. It was blessed and sanctified for the purpose of ceremonial baptism. No one would have thought to drink it. No one thought about it when they drank the taste of new wine. Now, here at their feet knelt the King of kings, Lord of lords and Prince of Peace. He was making peace with Himself and those gathered in the Upper Room to celebrate Passover. He did so no longer taking them on instructional journeys of discipleship. He did so make giving them the true demonstration of peacemaking. He became the servant of the house. He knelt before them and anointed their feet with baptismal water. He brought honor to them. Following the theme of this reflection, we might consider the thought of denial. No one at the table was an enemy against whom Jesus had fought. Ahem. Really? There had been conflicts of spiritual, ego and will all along the journey. Even then, the one who would betray Jesus into the hands of His accusers and executioners already had itchy feet. He would have to surrender his own dirty feet to the only One who could make his truly clean and acceptable. Such a conflict of interest. His feet would have to be calm when his heart and mind and soul were racing. His own agenda played over and over blinding him to the true peacemaker. What he wanted, he would get, if only he would surrender himself. It was Peter who attempted to stop Jesus, not Judas. Judas didn’t deny but Peter did. Each disciple was in conflict. They all asked, “Is it I, Lord?” The battle raged on with mixed emotions and overwhelming words. It lasted into the Garden where Judas would identify Jesus with a kiss of fellowship. The same Garden where the disciples could not keep watch. Unlike the shepherds in the fields by night whose peace was interrupted by angelic declarations of the birth of their Savior, the disciples peace was disturbed by those who thought they would make peace as the world did.

Mighty ones of God, where is our authentic peace. Where are we in the story of faith, hope and love? Even now as the scene presents itself again as it has in years past and will in years to come, where are we? Are we truly at peace with the Savior who made peace with God for us?

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

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness but as righteous works of faith, hope and love in Jesus’ name. AMEN.