December 11th by Charles Croissant
For instruction issues from Zion, and out of Jerusalem comes the word of the Lord; He will be judge between nations, arbiter among many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
Isaiah 2:3b-4
Advent stirs up all sorts of thoughts about the coming of Jesus — Jesus coming into the world as a human Child — Jesus coming into our hearts — Jesus coming again to judge and rule the world. I look forward to celebrating the birth of Christ. I long to feel that Jesus enters my heart. And in these days, as we hear news every day of war in the Ukraine and elsewhere, I find myself longing for Jesus to come to us and usher in his reign of peace. I believe Christ’s reign of peace is foreshadowed in this passage from Isaiah. We have such need of Jesus, to judge between nations and be arbiter among many peoples. But we can also act in small ways to bring about Christ’s reign of peace.
During this Advent season and beyond, we can all take steps in this direction by being kind to each other and demanding of our leaders that they seek peaceful resolutions to the conflicts around us. Lord Jesus, help me be an instrument of your peace.
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