The Advent theme for this week is peace, but if you look around the world there isn’t much. In fact, there isn’t much in our Nation as well. The polarization among political lines seems to be worsening. People are drawing battle lines on basic health care issues, reproductive choice, and gun violence.
Trying to find peace within ourselves isn’t easy as well. Many of us feel ourselves in turmoil. We feel we can’t even discuss basic questions in a civil manner. On Friday a group of Republican members of our state Assembly actually got into a tussle about wearing masks in the State House because they wanted to make it a political issue.
With the new Omicron variant, you’d think that people would want to be more careful rather than creating a ruckus over protecting others, not to mention themselves. It’s all part of the “me first” and “I don’t have to care about others” mentality. It’ upsetting that we are unable to talk about these issues in a peaceful and civilized manner.
Prayer for the Day
We live in a time of fear, O God, fear of losing what we have,
Our way of living, our comforts, our possessions;
We live in a time of change, O God, change we do not understand,
For it swirls around us, engulfing all that is familiar.
May we also live in a time of hope for a future we cannot yet see,
But which opens to us your vision of peace,
In the name of him who is the voice of peace,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.
Eleanor Roosevelt, activist, humanitarian (1884-1962)
While you are proclaiming peace with your lips, have it more fully in your heart.
Francis of Assisi, Saint (1181/1182-1226)
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger announcing peace,
Who brings good news, who announces salvation,
Who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
Isaiah 52: 7