"Guide us gently and firmly toward each other,
Toward peace."

– Rabbi Sheila Weinberg

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-25 NRSV

We are now in the second week of Advent waiting for the coming of our savior, Jesus Christ. The second Sunday is associated with peace. Depending on your age, peace can mean many things, but “the absence of war” is what often comes to mind. The word peace is used around 450 times in the King James Bible. It is used many different ways, for many purposes. Galatians 5:22 states that “peace” is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. In addition to being a part of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, peace in the Bible is not only the absence of war, but is also used to mean completeness. In Hebrew, peace is often translated as Shalom, which, in fact, means completeness. Shalom comes from the word Shalam, which stands for making something whole or righting the wrongs that we have committed. So, it seems as though the Bible wants us to first pursue wholeness and remember, Christians cannot truly be “whole” without Jesus.

Matthew 5:9 has Jesus praising the “peacemakers”, for they will be the children of God. Our military is often thought of as “peace keepers”; Jesus wants us to be “peace makers”. They are close, but very different. Peacekeepers make boundaries to push others away. Peacemakers go out in an attempt at minimizing conflict. Peacemakers go out to cultivate respectful and loving interactions that make a safe space for restoration and health.

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he began to speak and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Matthew 5:1-11 NRSV

How often do we, in our daily life, go out during a personal conflict and attempt to understand the needs of the individual with whom we are in conflict? That’s not what most of us normally do. It is usually easier to overwhelm and subdue our enemy, rather than open our hearts. I hope that we can all attempt to be the “children of God” we should be. Let our “peace”, be a peace of wholeness and love. If we all make an attempt to break down the walls that we have built for our personal protection and actively attempt to be the peacemakers that Jesus wants us to be, it could be a beautiful start during this wonderful season.

May peace be with you,
Ken

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If you are looking for a simple daily practice this season, you can download Kate Bowler's Bless This Advent devotional here.