A Sunday of Peace

Peace; it is the 2nd Sunday of Advent.

Peace; it is something we are sadly lacking.

Peace: it is something we all need in our world.

Peace; it is something we all need in our souls and in our spirits.

Peace; it is difficult to find.

Peace; take a moment, for most have not much more than a moment.  But we need the moments.  We need to FIND the moments to allow ourselves solace.  To embrace calm and lock out the chaos.  

On this second Sunday in advent, the lectionary reading is one of my favorites.  It is one of peace.  It is 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."

I love the imagery.  I WISH that I could/would see that in my lifetime.  Is it going to happen?  Probably not.  That doesn't mean I can't continue to HOPE for it.  To strive to working towards a peaceful world.  Or at the very least to strive so that MY part of the world is peaceful. (And you know how hard that is when you have a teen in your household?)

I can and will work towards peace in the world.  I can and I will try to make my own household peaceful.  Most importantly, I can work to try and find peace for myself.  For peace within me can only enhance my world.  (And even the greater world.)

Take the time to find peace for yourself.  You are worth it.  The world is worth it.