John Dear has written a set of daily reflection for Pax Christi, The Advent of the God of Peace. If you do not have this guide to the daily scripture readings for Advent, I recommend that you get it.
I never quite thought of it this way before but Advent is the coming of the God of Peace. We proclaim that Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Paul tells us that Christ is our peace. Christ is our peace—the only way to the God of Peace.
Jesus tells us to prepare because we know not the hour of the final coming of the Prince of Peace. Isaiah provides the blueprint for preparing for the full coming of Jesus. We prepare by saying no to war. “No more war. Never again war!’” pleaded Pope Paul VI to the United Nations. Pope John Paul repeated the refrain. Pope Benedict urges us to begin the Christian revolution by loving our enemies. Imagine that—love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
Isaiah’s blueprint—disarm by turning swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks. Plowshares and pruning hooks are tools for the good. They help us feed, nurture and nourish people rather than kill and maim them. We are not to lift swords and engage in war. Nor are we to prepare for war. We are not to use weapons and threats of violence as deterrents, as ways to dominate and exploit others.
What a time for dreamers, visionaries and prophets. In a world mired in war and violence, we proclaim that Christ is our peace. We proclaim that we are his disciples. “Blessed are the peacemakers.” At times, it seems that we are empty headed visionaries who are spitting into a gale. But, we temper our passion for peace with a sense of realism. Like many evangelicals, we are no into the rapture. There is good reason for that. We are not waiting for the final days. We know they will come and that all things will be made new and that every tear will be wiped away. However, we also know that the God of Peace has come and is dwelling with us NOW. We stand on Good Friday while we step into Easter Sunday.
In Romans, Paul gives us sound instruction in Romans 12:
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Yes, practice active nonviolence—resist evil but overcome it with good. Feed your enemies. Give them something to drink. The God of Peace will prevail.
As we ascend the mountain of nonviolence during Advent. Mountain is metaphor because that is where people of old thought God could be encountered. Let us then enter into God’s presence wherever we are. Let us stop, sit and listen quietly to the voice of the God of Peace. Unless we are contemplative, we will not hear the whisper of the God of Peace above the din of war and violence.
When we come down for the mountain, let us practice Christian nonviolence. Nonviolence is not Casper Milquetoast passive acquiescence to evil. Christian nonviolence actively resists evil by returning good. The goal is not to defeat the opponent. The goal is to convert the opponent. Each week Pax Christi is sending out a newsletter and will frame one action we can take. John Dear has written a set of daily reflection for Pax Christi, The Advent of the God of Peace. If you do not have this guide to the daily scripture readings for Advent, I recommend that you get it.
I never quite thought of it this way before but Advent is the coming of the God of Peace. We proclaim that Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Paul tells us that Christ is our peace. Christ is our peace—the only way to the God of Peace.
Jesus tells us to prepare because we know not the hour of the final coming of the Prince of Peace. Isaiah provides the blueprint for preparing for the full coming of Jesus. We prepare by saying no to war. “No more war. Never again war!’” pleaded Pope Paul VI to the United Nations. Pope John Paul repeated the refrain. Pope Benedict urges us to begin the Christian revolution by loving our enemies. Imagine that—love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
Isaiah’s blueprint—disarm by turning swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks. Plowshares and pruning hooks are tools for the good. They help us feed, nurture and nourish people rather than kill and maim them. We are not to lift swords and engage in war. Nor are we to prepare for war. We are not to use weapons and threats of violence as deterrents, as ways to dominate and exploit others.
What a time for dreamers, visionaries and prophets. In a world mired in war and violence, we proclaim that Christ is our peace. We proclaim that we are his disciples. “Blessed are the peacemakers.” At times, it seems that we are empty headed visionaries who are spitting into a gale. But, we temper our passion for peace with a sense of realism. Like many evangelicals, we are no into the rapture. There is good reason for that. We are not waiting for the final days. We know they will come and that all things will be made new and that every tear will be wiped away. However, we also know that the God of Peace has come and is dwelling with us NOW. We stand on Good Friday while we step into Easter Sunday.
In Romans, Paul gives us sound instruction in Romans 12:
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Yes, practice active nonviolence—resist evil but overcome it with good. Feed your enemies. Give them something to drink. The God of Peace will prevail.
As we ascend the mountain of nonviolence during Advent. Mountain is metaphor because that is where people of old thought God could be encountered. Let us then enter into God’s presence wherever we are. Let us stop, sit and listen quietly to the voice of the God of Peace. Unless we are contemplative, we will not hear the whisper of the God of Peace above the din of war and violence.
When we come down for the mountain, let us practice Christian nonviolence. Nonviolence is not Casper Milquetoast passive acquiescence to evil. Christian nonviolence actively resists evil by returning good. The goal is not to defeat the opponent. The goal is to convert the opponent. Each week Pax Christi is sending out a newsletter and will frame one action we can take. http://www.paxchristiusa.org/news_Events_more.asp?id=1307 outlines actions we can take. Some of us who live in rural areas may have to improvise. Fortunately, we do not have Christmas malls!
May Jesus who is our peace live in your hearts and lives!
outlines actions we can take. Some of us who live in rural areas may have to improvise. Fortunately, we do not have Christmas malls!
May Jesus who is our peace live in your hearts and lives!