WC 8/12 PEACE

We take this theme from the Gospel reading of the

2nd SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR A

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GATHER

+In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

What gives you peace?

What seems more difficult than it should be?

Rate your level of inner-peace out of 10!

WORD

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew: Glory to you O Lord.

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,

‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.” ’

Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptised by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our father”, for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

‘I baptise you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’

The Gospel of the Lord: Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

RESPONSE

The Second Sunday of Advent focuses on Peace, and the Gospel introduces us to John the Baptist. He is a wild figure in the desert, with a clear message:

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

John’s mission was one of preparation. He was the voice calling out to the people to prepare the way of the Lord, to get ready, making His paths straight. For the Jewish people, this meant literally clearing rocks and straightening roads for an important visitor. When a Roman official, or famous rabbi would come to town. People would be sent to clear the roads, or even build new straight ones. Houses would be knocked down, and ditches filled in to allow for the straightest and quickest route possible. But John was asking for a deeper, spiritual preparation.

When we hear the word repent, we often think of sadness, guilt or shame. But the original meaning of the Greek word, metanoia, means a change of heart, mind or direction. It means turning around. John is essentially saying,

"The true King is coming,

so stop walking away from Him,

turn around and come to meet him!"

This turning is the key to finding Advent peace. We can't welcome the Prince of Peace if we're facing in the wrong direction! We can't welcome him into a messy heart full of resentment, or busy mind cluttered with anxieties.

John calls us to "make straight" our paths. But what are those crooked paths in our lives?

A crooked path of anger might be holding onto a grudge against someone.

A crooked path of dishonesty might be a habit of lying or exaggerating.

A crooked path of low self esteem might be an addiction to social media.

The invitation of Advent peace is to identify one of those crooked paths and begin the work of straightening it out through prayer, repentance and forgiveness. When you confess a fault, ask for forgiveness, or let go of a grudge, you are actively creating space and order in your heart and mind.

This spiritual cleanup is where true peace begins. It’s the peace that comes from a life that is rightly ordered and inclusive of God.

How does Jesus’ message challenge or comfort you?

MISSION

How can you make a straight path for God?

What obstacles are there on the road to your heart?

Commit a small amount of time each day to prayer

- even if just an Our Father each day, or a minute of silence listening to God.

COLLECT

Let us pray…

Almighty and merciful God,

may no earthly undertaking hinder those

who set out in haste to meet your Son,

but may our learning of heavenly wisdom

gain us admittance to his company.

Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God, for ever and ever. Amen.