“Grace and truth is the invitation to be seen, and in that seeing to receive the gift of presence not withheld.”
- Scott Erickson, Honest Advent
At one of our Thursday night small groups last year we talked about peace, peacemakers and shalom. We sat out on a porch together imagining what implication a biblical call to peacemaking has on our lives and how that might shape us as a people of shalom. Shalom is a Hebrew word meaning peace, harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity, welfare and tranquility. Peace is a hope, a comfort, and a challenge.
Jesus embodied shalom on earth. People saw the glory of God in Jesus and described that wholeness as full of grace and truth. When we recognize ourselves as in need of and also worthy of grace we can extend grace readily. When we recognize truth as something that surpasses our own perspective, we can see things for what they actually are, which allows us to bear witness to the world around us but by continuing to seek truth, we can open ourselves up to other perspectives and point to the truth that is in fact good news to all people.
Jesus showed the world the grace and truth known in God. When we embody the wholeness found in truth that surpasses our own understanding, we can see others in their loving humanity and can offer ourselves in kind. In grace and truth we can see and be seen. We can offer the invitation of presence and come to know the gift of presence not withheld. When we are committed to creating spaces for people to be known and nurtured- when we can allow ourselves to be known and nurtured- the hard and holy work of peace can develop.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
John 1:14-18 NIV
May we make peace, with our words and with our actions, that contributes to peace everywhere.
As we prayed on Sunday: Faithful God, you are at work to restore all of creation in its intended harmony. Give us your shalom that we may be reconciled to all enemies in the peace that passes all understanding, through Christ Jesus our Lord.
God of promise, God of hope, into our darkness come.
Shalom,
Jordyn
Devotions this season are inspired by 2020 Advent lessons adapted from Shadow and Light by Tsh Oxenreider and In Light and Darkness published by Illustrated Ministries. Aspects of the Sunday church service and the book Honest Advent that we're using in Thursday night bible study were also referenced this week.