Word to the Wise
Sunday, December 4, 2016 - 2nd Sunday of Advent - A
[Isa 11:1-10; Rom 15:4-9; Matt 3:1-12]Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them. The cow and the bear shall be neighbors, together their young shall rest; the lion shall eat hay like the ox. The baby shall play by the cobra's den, and the child lay his hand on the adder's lair. [Isaiah]
The vision of Isaiah of what has become known as "the peaceable kingdom" is truly a beautiful one, but I fear our world has consigned it to a reproduction of Edward Hicks' (1780-1826) famous painting on Christmas cards. John the Baptist doesn't help matters in the gospel scripture today with his denunciations of the Sadducees and Pharisees. At least he calls us all to repentance, which could lead to that peaceable kingdom.
Advent can indeed be a time when we can pray for a peaceable kingdom, especially in the war-torn regions of Syria, Iraq, Somalia and Yemen. We can also pray for peace in our own land, at Standing Rock reservation and in cities where shootings of various kinds leave us all wondering if we dare set foot in a shopping mall during the busiest shopping season of the year. We can pray for peace in our own families and our church. The wolf, the lamb, the leopard, the kid, the calf, the young lion, and most of all the Baby are looking to us to do our part in bringing about the peaceable kingdom. We have a big challenge, but the "Baby" who will be born soon will help. After all he is "the reason for the season." AMEN