Scripture: Micah 4: 1-5 Nigel Bunce
Peace is the theme of the second Sunday in Advent. But peace is more than freedom from war. Inner peace can be elusive, even when armed warfare is absent.
The photograph is of “Let us beat our swords into plowshares”, a sculpture by Evgeniy Vuchetich, U.N. Art Collection.
A dream unfulfilled
This evening’s Scripture appears almost word for word in chapter 2 of Isaiah and chapter 4 of Micah. It refers of course, to humanity’s ancient, yet unrealized, dream of a time without conflict, so that all citizens of all countries can get on with their lives without having to worry about wars. That’s why we almost always read this, or a similar piece of Scripture, on the Second Sunday of Advent, when the theme of the day is Peace.
Peace means more than the absence of warfare
We cannot find inner peace as long as we have worries. And there are so many things to worry about, especially in this time of pandemic. Worry is like a great stone hanging around one’s neck, or a great weight on one’s back. Its ever-presence wears people down.
How are my children coping with disrupted education due to the pandemic? Will it have long term adverse effects on their careers?
How am I going to cope with price increases: of food, of rent, of gas for my car, and on and on?
Some communities have specific ongoing worries. How can I face ongoing threats and discrimination because of my race, my sexual orientation, my religion, the area where I live, to name a few?
Peace includes justice, kindness and humility
Those of us who are fortunate in these respects – we have enough money, warm homes in safe neighbourhoods, and rarely if ever get called out in negative ways – need to think compassionately towards those who have these ongoing worries. Otherwise, we risk becoming part of the burdens that they have to carry.
We bring to mind the three qualities that the prophet Micah urged on us elsewhere in his writing; justice, kindness, and humility. May we do our best to shine as beacons for ethical behaviour in our own lives. And may we applaud and support those in governance who do likewise, both politically and in our day to day purchases.