The traditional celebration of Advent includes the 4 Sundays prior to Christmas. This year those dates are December 3, 10, 17, & 24. In fact, Advent began on December 3 this year, the first Sunday of Advent. In churches where Advent is specifically celebrated, there are candles that are lit for each of the Sundays, with the 5th candle (the white one) lit on Christmas. (And I have a confession to make! I assumed Advent began on the 1st – but am relieved that it was the 3rd, so I actually started my Advent blog on the correct date. Whoopee!)
The focus of the first Sunday is HOPE. I talked about that yesterday. The second candle is PEACE. It celebrates the coming of the Prince of Peace, as prophesied in Isaiah 9:6.
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
That promise came true when an angel appeared to the shepherds out in the field near Bethlehem where they were watching the flocks of sheep, telling them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people...."
I will share more of that story another day!
PEACE! We LOVE peace. We love the absence of hurt. Hurt caused words spoken carelessly, or taken wrong. Words intended to harm. Actions that surpass words. Injustice. Inequity. Unfairness. Conflict. Wars. In reality Jesus didn't come to totally rectify circumstances that are not peaceful. He came to make it possible for us to have peace with God. He came to bring us the opportunity for choosing eternal life!
In addition, the reality is, when we do have peace with God we have a lot better chance of making peace with others, individually and globally. An opportunity that eludes us far too often. Our world right now is a mess. Jesus is the answer!
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