Focus Scriptures: Mark 1:1-8, Isaiah 40:1-11, and 2 Peter 3:8-15
December 10,
2023 – Second Sunday of Advent
Pathway
to Peace
Mark gets
right down to business in his Gospel. As I mentioned last week, there is no
birth story or any of the other Christmas scene with which we are familiar in
his telling. The things of Christmas carols – a baby, stars, wise men,
shepherds, the manger – are all left to other writers. Instead, we start with,
“The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ” and an immediate reference to
the Isaiah text, the beginning of chapter 40, that we just heard.
“Prepare the
way of the Lord; make his paths straight.” That preparer, of course, is John
the Baptist, the one wearing camel hair and eating bugs and wild honey.
On this
Sunday, Peace Sunday according to our Advent tradition, let’s consider this
idea of making straight paths. From where do they come? To where are they
going? And what does this have to do with peace? What, exactly, is peace.
During this
past week, we were having conversations about the nature of our practice of
lighting Advent candles. When we light a candle called “peace,” are we saying
that we have peace, want peace, or both? As Advent is a time of preparation and
anticipation, at least part of this practice is forward-looking and
aspirational. From an eschatological standpoint, the notion that we are moving
toward a future and fulfilment of God’s plan, we can look forward to a time of
eternal peace, but we are not there yet. We light the peace candle with and as
a prayer for peace, a peace that does not yet exist.
As
Christians, though, we can have peace. Now! After all, Jesus said, “Peace I
leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). We are
talking about a special peace granted by God.
As I was
preparing this sermon, I looked up the definition of peace, and I found two on
my first pass. The first: “A period of no war, or when war has ended.” The
second: “Freedom from disturbance, tranquility.” This final word, tranquility,
is the word that comes closest to the mark when I think of the peace Jesus
gives us. Let’s discuss how this peace gets to us and what happens when we
realize it.
Whenever we
go on a journey, we need to know at least two things: the starting point and
the destination. Let’s think about this idea of making straight the path of the
Lord. The Isaiah text is more descriptive than Mark’s concise paraphrase, so
let’s start there.
In Isaiah
40:3-5, we read, “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight
in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every
mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged
places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will
see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
This path, a
highway, according to Isaish is monumental and earth-shaking. It is bigger than
any road project you can imagine. Why? Because it goes everywhere. More
accurately, it goes to everyone, you, me, every person that has ever
lived. The path that Jesus Christ takes is one that leads from God – creator,
light, life, peace for all – directly to our hearts and souls.
We have
talked before about the concept of prevenient grace, the grace of God being
there and ready for us to welcome God into our lives. When we do that, God is
there, and there is nothing – no pothole, hill, valley, washout, or anything
else – that is going to get in the way.
The path or
highway, of course, is metaphorical. The hills, mountains, and valleys truly
are those obstacles of our own making. And often, they are things that bring us
anything but peace, anything but tranquility.
Strike up a
conversation with almost anyone, and we will find so many complaining about
common obstacles between us and peace. There is the busyness of the season.
There are the ongoing battles between political parties. And there are economic
concerns, war, natural disasters, and a so many other challenges large and
small that keep us stalled or even moving in the wrong direction on the path to
peace.
Do you think
this is any different than what people felt during Jesus’s time? I think not.
Of course, they did not have mass media and the internet, those always-on
pipelines of bad news and anxiety, but they had plenty to worry about. And
their worries were likely more existential. Having enough food, avoiding
diseases with no cures, living under Roman rule: it sounds worse in some ways.
Is it any
surprise that so many came out into the desert to be baptized. This was a
people in search of something, someone, a Messiah. When John the Baptist used
the language he used – prepare the way – they knew what he meant. All of
Jerusalem…they ALL came to repent and be baptized. They had great hope. They
wanted peace, peace that only the Messiah could bring. All wanted that path to
come directly to them. Do we?
As we wait
in this season of Advent and prepare for the coming Christ child and the return
of our risen savior, there is plenty we can do. For starters, why don’t we
shorten the path? Hills and valleys are not the only features that define a
path. Distance is central to it. (Just ask any hiker.) What can we do to
shorten the path that Jesus Christ takes to our heart?
As
important, what can we do to help other travelers along their paths? Some are
stuck, maybe even heading in the wrong direction on the path where the Lord
will be found. Might we offer a word of encouragement or even share our own
faith stories with those who need to hear them?
For some,
this can take longer than for others. Peter’s epistle lesson this morning
highlights that point. Let’s refresh our memories on this, from 2 Peter chapter
3:
“The Lord is
not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you,
not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.
“Therefore,
beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at
peace, without spot or blemish, and regard the patience of our Lord as
salvation” (NRSVUE).
God’s timing
is perfect, and the long duration is a sign of mercy as God wants all to be
saved, all to have peace. God wants us all to be in a place of peace where the
things of this world seem a little less important, maybe a lot less
important.
When we meet
Jesus on the highway, we discover the peace of salvation, the peace of coming
face to face with our creator, when Jesus will gather us lambs into his arms.
There will be no more fear, there will be no more suffering. There will only be
peace and love.
That is the
hope of the season and our perpetual, certain hope as Christians.
Make
straight the path for the Lord into your own heart and be ready to welcome
Jesus. AMEN.
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I invite you
to join us for worship at First United Methodist Church on Sundays at 10:00 AM.
Our address is 188 Rocky Rest Road. You can also join us online for our live
stream at https://umcshelton.org/.
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Feel free to
leave respectful comments or questions below. I hope these written sermons are
a blessing to you. – Pastor Bill
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