A Vision of a Whole New World: Embrace Peace Amid Chaos
Rev. Erik Swanson
December 8, 2024
Last night at the Celebration of Light in downtown Saratoga, I found myself anxious and distracted, caught up in the moment's demands. I took a pause to pray and reconnect with God, which brought peace and clarity. My body relaxed, my mind slowed, and I became present, laughing at how I’d let the chaos consume me. This brief moment of peace didn’t erase the world’s struggles, like political turmoil or personal hardships, but it shifted my perspective. It reminded me that peace is vital for my soul and the world, a reflection of Christ, the Prince of Peace.
Advent invites us to embrace peace, even amid chaos
Each week of Advent provides guidance: the first week, the week of hope, calls us to awaken. The second, the week of peace, is heard through John the Baptist’s call to repent. It urges us to turn toward Christ. Luke’s Gospel (chapter 3, verses 1-6) sets this message in a grim historical context, underlining the oppressive times of the Jewish people. John’s cry to “prepare the way of the Lord” challenges us to embrace peace not by denying hardships, but by welcoming God’s presence in our struggles.
Cultural Christianity and God’s Peace
The message in Luke’s Gospel account contrasts with cultural Christianity, which often equates faith with ease and blames difficulties on personal shortcomings. Life’s inevitable hardships—loss, illness, and chaos—demand more than platitudes; they require the transformative power of God’s peace. John’s message and Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah chapter 40) of a straightened path and smoothed terrain symbolize a profound shift. Preparing the way for Christ is about disrupting the world’s status quo, embracing a new vision of peace, justice, and connection.
Finding True Peace
True peace isn’t passive; it requires practice and cultivation. It calls us to prayer, meditation, and finding nurturing spaces. Embracing peace is a fruit of deep connection with God, a lifeline in a chaotic world. It’s a spiritual discipline that not only sustains us, but also contributes to transforming the world. The injustices around us—faced by Palestinians, Haitian immigrants, and other marginalized communities—reveal a desperate need for this divine peace. Such peace doesn’t emerge by chance; it must be sought and practiced, interrupting the world’s relentless distractions.
Creating Space for Christ
Advent preparation challenges us to create space for the Light of Christ. It’s not merely a seasonal ritual, but an intentional act of transformation. By nurturing peace within ourselves, we align with God’s vision for the world. How we practice our faith matters deeply. Our preparation for Christmas is about making room for the Light, allowing it to reshape us, and participating in the massive change that Christ envisions.
As we prepare for Christmas through this Advent season, we’re called to take John’s challenge seriously. Let us embrace our spiritual practices as essential, not optional, recognizing their power to connect us to God’s peace and light. In this way, we contribute to the work of making rough ways smooth and crooked paths straight, embodying the change we long to see in the world.
Amen.