The Path of Peace

Grace and peace to you brothers and sisters from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

On this Second Sunday of Advent, we continue our journey toward the celebration of the birth of Christ. Advent, as we know, is a season of waiting, preparing, and anticipating the coming of the Lord. In a world full of distractions and noise, the liturgical calendar invites us into a time of spiritual quiet, a time to focus on what is most important. As we await the birth of the Savior, we are reminded not just of the nativity in Bethlehem, but of the coming of Christ in glory to establish God's kingdom of justice and peace.

The themes of Advent brothers and sisters, are hope, peace, joy, and love. Last Sunday, we focused on the theme of hope—on the waiting with expectation that God is faithful, and that Christ will come again to make all things new.

This Sunday, brothers and sisters we turn our attention to peace, a peace that surpasses all understanding, the peace that Christ brings. Our readings today help us understand this peace as something far more than the absence of conflict—rather, it is the presence of God’s justice, reconciliation, and healing.

Let’s reflect on what peace truly means in light of the Scriptures appointed for today.

I. Peace Foretold in Isaiah: The Kingdom of Peace

The prophet Isaiah offers us a powerful image of peace in our first reading from Isaiah 11:1-10. 

“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord— and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.

Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.”

This passage describes a future time when the Messiah will come to establish a kingdom of peace. In the midst of violence, oppression, and brokenness, a new ruler will emerge—a descendant of Jesse, David's father—and this ruler will bring about a reign of justice and righteousness.

Isaiah uses striking imagery to show the transformation that will take place when this ruler comes. Wolves and lambs will lie down together, leopards and goats will be companions, and even the lion will eat straw like the ox. In other words, the natural order—often characterized by predator and prey, by violence and fear—will be turned upside down. This new world order will be characterized by harmony and peace.

It is not just a vision of physical peace brothers and sisters, but also spiritual and social peace. The Messiah will judge with righteousness, defend the poor, and strike down the wicked. Justice will flow like a river, and those who have been oppressed will be uplifted. This is the peace that Christ comes to bring—the peace that reconciles humanity to God and one another.

This vision of peace brothers and sisters is both a promise and a call to action. It reminds us that God's kingdom is not something that happens passively; it is a kingdom that requires our active participation. The peace of Christ is not simply an individual experience of inner calm, but a communal reality in which we work toward justice, healing, and reconciliation in the world around us.

II. Peace in Christ: Living in Harmony

In our reading from Romans 15:4-13 brothers and sisters it reads “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 

For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.”

Again, it says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.” And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him.” And again, Isaiah says “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

the apostle Paul exhorts us to live in harmony with one another, just as Christ has welcomed us. Paul calls us to reflect the love and peace of Christ in our relationships, both within the church and with the wider world. He writes:

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)

The peace that Christ brings brothers and sisters is not just a distant, future reality. It is something that begins here and now, among us. It is a peace that is rooted in reconciliation, a peace that builds bridges rather than walls. Paul emphasizes that Christ came not just for the Jews, but for the Gentiles as well. His mission was to reconcile all people to God and to one another.

This is a powerful message in our current world, where division and strife often seem to dominate. Paul’s call to live in harmony reminds us that our relationships, our communities, and our actions must reflect the love and peace of Christ. Advent, as a season of preparation, is a time for us to examine our own relationships—our own families, our churches, our neighborhoods—and ask the important question brothers and sisters, "How can we live more fully as instruments of peace?"

III. Peace Through Repentance: The Role of John the Baptist

In the Gospel reading from Matthew 3:1-12 brothers and sisters it reads, “In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea  and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.” 

John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

we hear the voice of John the Baptist calling people to repentance in preparation for the coming of the Messiah. John’s message was clear and urgent: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." He called people to make their hearts and lives ready for the coming of Christ, to turn away from sin, and to bear fruit worthy of repentance.

John the Baptist’s call to repentance is closely tied to the message of peace brothers and sisters. Repentance is not just about feeling sorry for our wrongs; it is about turning our lives around, changing direction, and making a deliberate choice to follow the path of righteousness. Repentance clears the way for God to work in our lives. It is through repentance that we experience the peace of reconciliation with God.

This Advent, brothers and sisters, John’s message is still relevant to us. We are called to prepare the way of the Lord, to make a straight path for him in our hearts. We are reminded that the peace Christ offers is rooted in the transformative power of repentance—a turning away from the things that lead to destruction and a turning toward the life-giving ways of God.

IV. The Peace That Christ Offers: A Holistic Peace

So, what does peace really look like in the context of Advent brothers and sisters? It is not just an inner tranquility or the absence of external conflict. The peace that Christ offers is holistic—it is personal, communal, and cosmic. It is a peace that brings healing to broken relationships, reconciliation to divided communities, and restoration to a fractured world.

1. Personal Peace: In our relationship with God, Christ brings peace through forgiveness. He came to reconcile us to God, removing the barrier of sin that separates us. This peace is experienced in our hearts as we accept the grace of God and the love of Christ.

2. Relational Peace: In our relationships with one another, we are called to be agents of peace. As Paul encourages us in Romans, we are to live in harmony with one another, bearing with each other in love, and working toward unity. This is not always easy, but it is what Christ calls us to do.

3. Social Peace: Christ’s peace extends beyond individual and relational peace. It is also a call to work for justice and peace in the world—peace that uplifts the poor, defends the marginalized, and works for the flourishing of all people. The vision of peace in Isaiah 11—a world where all creatures live in harmony—points to a future hope, but it also challenges us to be instruments of that peace today.

   
   

Conclusion:

Brothers and sisters as we continue our Advent journey, let us prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ, the Prince of Peace. Let us heed the call of John the Baptist to repent, to turn away from all that stands in the way of God’s peace, and to live lives worthy of the Kingdom of God.

Let us embrace the vision of peace that Isaiah offers—knowing that Christ came to bring peace not just in the future, but here and now. And as Paul reminds us, let us live in harmony with one another, reflecting the love and peace of Christ to the world.

In this season of Advent, may the God of peace fill us with joy, hope, and a deep sense of his presence, so that we might be instruments of his peace in the world. And may we look forward with expectation to the day when Christ will come again, bringing his kingdom of peace to full fruition.

Amen.