"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you.
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27
This week the Advent candle was the candle of peace, now here we find ourselves with a verse on peace. In a way it's ironic, because the world, while in the midst of the holiday season, is decidedly non peaceful. Us Christians are about to celebrate that pivotal moment in world history where we believe God stepped out of the beyond and into the world in the form of a little baby, yet we are as divided right now as we possibly ever have been, at least here in America. We are divided among racial line. We are divided among sexual lines. We are divided politically. We are divided socially. We are divided by our various interpretation of scriptures. We are divided by our preferences inside the walls of our sanctuaries. We are divided and in this time of waiting and preparation we are incapable of seeing beyond our differences to the spot that connects us all, or rather the one that connects us all, Jesus. We can't seem to agree on that point of connection because we seem to each believe in a different Jesus. How messed up is that?
This Advent season I hope to remake the place Jesus has in my heart and in my life, to widen his space and shrink mine a little in order that he may live more in me and more in this world. The world needs the peace that Jesus offers and I need that same peace because I am a part of this world.
There are no questions today, but if you agree that the world needs more of what Jesus offers then I would ask you to pray the following prayer, and in the chorus of our voices the Lord may hear our prayer and begin to work anew in our lives and in this world.
A Prayer: Jesus, the one and only, We beseech you in this moment to shine again on us poor beggars at your door. We beseech you to open our eyes and our ears and our minds and our hearts and our souls to the love that you commanded us to show so that others would know whom we serve. We beseech you to once again pour out your peace among us, that our hearts may be not troubled and that we might not be afraid. We ask these things not for our own good, but for the good of your people and your world that lives may be changed by the touch of your peace and your presence. Make your dwelling place among the people and help us to spread your love to every corner of darkness. Amen and amen.
This Advent season I hope to remake the place Jesus has in my heart and in my life, to widen his space and shrink mine a little in order that he may live more in me and more in this world. The world needs the peace that Jesus offers and I need that same peace because I am a part of this world.
There are no questions today, but if you agree that the world needs more of what Jesus offers then I would ask you to pray the following prayer, and in the chorus of our voices the Lord may hear our prayer and begin to work anew in our lives and in this world.
A Prayer: Jesus, the one and only, We beseech you in this moment to shine again on us poor beggars at your door. We beseech you to open our eyes and our ears and our minds and our hearts and our souls to the love that you commanded us to show so that others would know whom we serve. We beseech you to once again pour out your peace among us, that our hearts may be not troubled and that we might not be afraid. We ask these things not for our own good, but for the good of your people and your world that lives may be changed by the touch of your peace and your presence. Make your dwelling place among the people and help us to spread your love to every corner of darkness. Amen and amen.
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