The Path of Peace

Second Sunday of Advent

Scripture: Luke 1:67-79

There is an unsung hero in our Christmas story. If I asked you to name who's who for Christmas you'd tell me about the baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Donkeys are big this year, and Shepherds following a star. The "wise men" are there (even though they are not supposed to be!). But we rarely mention or remember John the Baptist. He's for Easter! We talk about his baptizing Jesus, preaching repentence, calling for the way to be made clear, and that unfortunate incident with the head and the plate. But John had a great deal to do with Christmas and its his story too. The story he would tell us is one of peace.

Zachariah, John's father didn't believe the news of his son's birth to the barren older couple, and as such was penalized with 9 months of being unable to talk until the child was born. Zachariah spent 9 months in silence - but I assure you that although he was quiet - he was not peaceful. We mistake peace for the absence of noise, the absence of agitation, the absence of suffering or the absence of war. But peace is not what is around you - peace is what is within you. In his silence Zachariah didn't know peace - until the child was born and the noise returned to his lips once more. THEN when he was able to prophesy about his son, and the coming messiah, he found peace. Zachariah's cantacle (a fancy word for "song") shows us what to do when we can't assure we will be surrounded by peaceful conditions but can assure a path of peace.

Peace is Strength - Zachariah starts by talking about the Horn of Salvation. In ancient times (like we remember from the stories of Joshua and Gideon) armies about to battle would have each soldier blow their horn before the fight commenced. That was the army could show how big and stong it was by its volume and sustenance. Then, the fortress or city would know whether to fight or flee. The Horn became a symbol of the strength of our resources. Peace is not weakness nor neutrality - peace is strength. Not our strength - God's strength. "When you are weak," God says, "then I am strong". We need to always remember not just when we are at the top of the circle and head of the food chain, but when we are at our lowest -that God's strength is our peace. In God's strength there is no oppression, lonliness, disease or death that can defeat us. That should give us great peace.

Peace is Preparation - Zachariah goes on to prophesy about his own son - the one who will cry out in the wilderness, "prepare ye the way of the Lord." Peace doesn't come upon if we sit for deliverance on the side of a road crowded with the stones of things past and present. In a time when cities were isolated - when a visiting dignitary would come for an inspection or diplomatic visit, a crew had to be put together to clear to road - remove rocks and debris - so the person could arrive in style. Peace comes to us when we remove the barriers, the rocks, and the dust of yesterday. When we unchain ourselves from the ties we willingly allow to bind us - we prepare the road for peace to come to us.

Peace is Guidance - The Zachariah goes back to his messianic prophecy and reminds us of the light that will shine in the darkness, and GUIDE our steps to the path of peace. Peace is not a path we stumble upon like an out-of-luck gambler who happens to find a winning lottery ticket in the parking lot. Peace is a path we must be guided to by God. What will it take? We must listen and we must follow. In a season where we are busy with parties and dinners, shopping, wrapping, mailing, cooking and traffic - we must stop following the crowd, and start following the guidance who wants to show us so much more . Are you willing to hear God? Are you willing to follow? If so, you will find yourself on a road so much better than a highway, byway, freeway or gateway - you will plant your feet on the very path of peace.