Grace and peace to you from the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In two days I will celebrate the anniversary of my Ordination. A blessing upon blessings that you have prepared a place for me here. Thank you. 

When I felt the pull of a call to learn and earn my Master’s of Divinity I wasn’t sure where this path with God was going to lead me. 

The anxiety of not knowing and the waiting seemed to be too much at times. 

Thankfully my family and friends were very supportive and encouraging. By giving myself to God I found peace that I hadn’t known before. 

A peace in knowing that God would take care of me, welcome me into the beloved family of creation. 

In our prayer we ask God to stir up our hearts, to prepare the way of your only Son. 

Advent is this time of Jesus coming to give all the people, that’s correct, all of the people God’s love and salvation. 

We await the beautiful gift of the birth of Jesus, the Messiah, Emmanuel God among us. 

Words of comfort; hope, peace, joy and the love of God. Where do you hear these words of peace? 

When do you feel at peace?

How do you share your peace? 

The Second Sunday of Advent celebrates peace. 

For me, I seem to recall events differently than the memories of my children. 

At one time it was tradition that we would meet my mom downtown and go to Dayton’s to see the Christmas display and get the kids' picture taken with Santa. 

We would go to my mom’s, now former condo, and have a light dinner or sometimes even eat in the Oak Room, remember those popovers? 

The night was often cold and we would bundle up and walk the six blocks to Dayton’s. 

Nicollet Mall would be all lit up and the windows of Dayton’s all decorated. Even with all of the activity it was peaceful. 

I would watch our family and look at others enjoying the night, full of wonder and expectation. 

Walking by all the Holidazzle floats staging for the parade built the excitement. 

After arriving we would get in line for the elevators and make our way to the 8th floor, where the display was. 

As the doors opened we were guided to join the line, jackets were opened, scarves, and mittens stowed away and the gentle rhythm of the line moved to the Christmas songs playing through the speakers.

I don’t know if the kids were more excited about the display or meeting Santa, probably both. 

Taking our time, well as much as the line kept you moving, we approached the finale, next stop, Santa. 

Grandma would select the picture package and we waited with anticipation. 

Perhaps my peace was tested a little when suddenly the idea of a picture, with none other than Santa, was simply too much. 

The Christmas Carols were drowned out with crying and sometimes screaming children. 

What happened to our preparation to see Santa, wasn’t this supposed to be a Hallmark moment? 

While many of our cherished photos show beaming smiles, there are also a few that show traces of red eyes that dried up enough for a picture or even flushed cheeks from the sudden rush of anxiety. 

When I look back at my own photos at Dayton’s with Santa I recognize some of the clues to the anxiety and even fear when we don’t feel at peace. 

If I were to ask my children to respond truthfully about going to Dayton’s I wonder if it was a peaceful experience for them? 

At that specific place and time my fond memories come from a place of love, carrying the knowledge of what the whole season of Advent is about. 

Advent is about the coming of Jesus. 

Luke's gospel gives us the specific place, time, and people involved in this wonderful gift.

John, son of Zechariah, receives the word of God in the wilderness. The word of God comes to John, not the others named. 

In the beginning was the word and the word was God. 

John is the trailblazer, preparing the way for Jesus. 

Much like the hustle and bustle of the lines and people at the former Dayton’s display it may be easy to get lost in all of the noise of what we are waiting for. 

John the baptizer receives this call and goes out into all the regions of Jordan. 

Proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Preparing us to meet God, Jesus born for all of us. 

Much like John’s unexpected, but joyous birth, we have a true prophet clearing our way. 

God’s word acts in history. 

Where do you hear this word? 

Do you feel peace? 

Peace, the Hebrew word translated Shalom, occurs over 250 times in the Bible. 

The definition of Shalom is shown in many usages; good relations, quiet tranquility, and God, described as peace. 

In Greek the word for peace is ‘eirene’.

Defined as a harmonious state of mind, an imperturbability that could exist irrespective of external circumstances. 

Peace unifies humanity through the love of Christ. 

Whether you are standing in line to see Santa, going to all the regions around Jordan, braving the Mall of America, there is peace. 

A peace in a harmonious state of mind, the peace of God loving us, offering Shalom, when we need it most. 

Peace cannot be bought, it must be believed. 

I would like to read a reflection on peace from Frederick Beuchner. 

Peace has come to mean the time when there aren’t any wars or even when there aren’t any major wars. Beggars can’t be choosers: we’d most settle for that. But in Hebrew peace, Shalom, means fullness, means having everything you need to be wholly and happily yourself. 

One of the titles by which Jesus is known is Prince of Peace, and he used the word himself in what seem at first glance to be two radically contradictory utterances. On one occasion he said to the disciples, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34). And later on , the last time they ate together, he said to them, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you” (John 14:27), 

The contradiction is resolved when you realize that for Jesus, peace seems to have meant not the absence of struggle, but the presence of love. FB Page 307-Beyond Words 

In the coming of Jesus this Advent we are witnesses to the presence of love. 

A love that offers peace in times of anxiety, for it is our peace and our love that we share with Christ.

This word of God, comes in peace to all of us who are invited to prepare the way of the Lord. 

Where can you make your paths straight ? 

What valleys in your life are keeping you down or mountains that seem so high that you could never climb them? 

Like the soft falling snow, a flurry of activity, that blankets the earth like the warm embrace of God’s Shalom. 

The salvation of God is our salvation delivered with love by the Prince of Peace- Jesus. 

Amen