Justice, then Peace, Advent 2, Dec. 4, 2016

Second Sunday in Advent (Year A)

Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016

Theme:  Justice, then Peace

Reflection: "Peace does not fare well where poverty and deprivation reign. It does not flourish where there is ignorance and a lack of education and information. Repression, injustice and exploitation are inimical with peace. Peace is gravely threatened by inter-group fear and envy and by the unleashing of unrealistic expectations. Racial, class and religious intolerance and prejudice are its mortal enemies."

– Frederik W. de Klerk, S. African politician, 1993 Nobel Peace Prize winner

True peace is not merely the absence of tension, it is the presence of Justice.

-- Martin Luther King, Jr

What if before a person killed, injured, bullied, spoke unkindly or hurt anyone in any way, he or she had to sit next to that person for an hour, telling and listening to each other's life stories? Learn to respect each other's lives, see the Divine in the other? Only then could they pick up their weapons. Perhaps that would be the end of all war, the beginning of peace and justice.

Anonymity allows us to do evil, even horrendous evil, without consequence. We see it online, in our schools, in headlines. Stereotyping, hate crimes, bombings, murders and wars rage between individuals, groups and nations that know nothing about the other than what they’ve been taught to think.

We saw it erupt unlike anything in the last 50 years during this election season. Mexicans called rapists and drug-runners by the now President-elect. Women, minorities, members of the LGBT communities and people with disabilities demonized and ridiculed.

Years ago, as a young reporter, I wrote about a project called Hands Across the Border. It encouraged communities in the United States and Mexico to connect, through their schools. Tiny Oak Creek School, a K-8 school in Cornville, AZ, reached out to Guaymas, Sonora, to start an exchange.

As expected, the parents on both sides of the border had fears and reservations. On top of both communities’ lists: Will our children be safe? First, a set of parents and school officials went to Guaymas, a nine-hour-plus trip. Then, Guaymas parents and school officials came to Arizona. Finally, middle-school students from both countries took turns spending a weekend with host families.

Differences were inescapable. The standard of living in Guaymas was not as high as that of Cornville, a rural, working-class community in Arizona. But the adults and students had their hearts changed, and left with different impressions. From the Arizona side: Mexican families are tighter-knit than our families. They have amazing food. Their community celebrations are beautiful and fun. Their homes, while different than ours, are clean and comfortable. Their parents want the best for their children.

Sadly, the exchanges stopped. Budget cuts and changing political climates ended the program, as well as the entire Hands Across the Border Foundation. But for years of families and educators, the words “Mexicans” and “Americans” never would have the same connotations. How do you hate a culture whose families have shared their homes with you?

It is so easy to talk about unconditional love and peace, then divide the world into “us” and “them.” It is easy to speak words of hope, then lose that vision in a world of anger and fear. Humbly, knowing the biases and blockades of my own heart, I ask for God’s help in making me part of a cohort of change, people who can reach out to know the other before we keep inflicting pain, who try to love like our brother, Jesus, taught us to love. No lines. No walls. No “us” and “them.” Every single person, a child of God.

Faith App:  Who do you know who needs to feel God’s shalom – peace, wellness, goodness, abundance and forgiveness in their lives? Carry it with you wherever you go.

HYMN/SONG SUGGESTIONS

O Day of Peace, ELW 711

When Our Song Says Peace, ELW 709

Christ, Be Our Light, ELW 715

Blessed Be the God of Israel, ELW 250

There’s a Voice in the Wilderness, ELW 255

Here Is Bread, ELW 483

By Your Hand You Feed Your People, ELW 469

Let There Be Peace on Earth, Jill & Sy Miller

There Will Be a Day, Jeremy Camp

Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord, from Godspell

God of this City, Chris Tomlin 

LESSONS

Isaiah 11:1-10 The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid.

Psalm 72: 1-7, 18-19 In his days may righteousness flourish and peace abound.

Romans 15:4-13 May God grant you to live in harmony with one another.

Matthew 3:1-12 Bear fruit worthy of repentance.

Summary of the Lessons: Today’s Advent theme is peace, but the readings are full of calls to justice. It’s not surprising, since justice and peace are inseparable. Where there is discrimination, deprivation, exploitation, and fear, peace will never be found.

OPENING LITANY  based on Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19

L:  Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!

C:  Out of the darkness, our great hope appears!

L:  Inspire your leaders to seek justice, God,

C:  To aspire to right actions, not just approval,

L:  To see all people for what they could be,

C:  And transform disparity into enough for all.

L:  May the earth bring forth bountiful harvests,

C:  Healthy and plentiful food for everyone,

L:  Privileged powers changing the plight of the poor,

C:  Protecting the vulnerable instead of the forceful.

L:  Raise up such leaders throughout all generations,

C:  Not just for our lifetimes – as long as the heavens endure.

L:  May their governance be like water to the parched,

C:  Life-giving goodness of compassion and peace.

L:  Blessed be the Lord – your wonders are astounding!

C:  Blessed be our God – with one voice we praise you!

CONFESSION

L:  Peace – that’s just a pipedream and fantasy,

C:  The world’s powers play winner take all.

L:  Pre-emptive strikes and back-room deals,

C:  Broken promises – and we live with anxiety.

L:  Peace – that’s just the call of the cowards,

C:  Everyone knows it’s a dog-eat-dog world,

L:  It’s old vs. new, strong vs weak, us vs. them,

C: Then violence erupts – and we pray for the victims.

L:  Peace – it’s not going to happen, not in our time,

C:  Fear erodes our faith in communities,

L:  Misunderstandings keep us hurt and divided.

C:  Creating chasms – and we plead for your peace.

(Silent reflection: soft music, such “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” could be played during the reflection each week of Advent. Or the music could be a softer version of the tune played for an Advent candle lighting.)

L:  In our confession, we pray together,

C:  Most Merciful God … we pray for your wisdom and counsel to create your vision, a world of peace. Not just an end to hostilities, which would be a hollow peace. A just world –

•                    where all people come to trust and understand each other

•                    where each country has a fair share of resources,

•                    where people, especially seniors and children, never lack basic needs.

Lord, take us beyond our prayers for a world like this, and help us work in your name to create it.

Hear this Good News, from Paul’s letter to the Romans: “May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Your sin is forgiven – arise with hope and live as one.

In the name of…

Amen

PRAYER OF THE DAY

L:  We pray together, 

C: God of Shalom … as we enter the season of Advent, we pray that you would prepare our hearts once and always for your presence among us. Stir us up, Lord, bearing fruit worthy of repentance. Take from us our reliance on power and conflict, and show us your peace-making, light-bearing, love-carrying ways, actions that bring forth your kingdom.  Amen. 

COMMUNION BLESSING

L:  We pray together,

C:  We give thanks, most gracious God, for coming near in this meal, week after week. As we continue in this Advent season, keep us focused on preparing the way, preparing our hearts to receive your peace and be your shalom that this world so desperately needs.  Amen.

SENDING

L:  Prepare the way of the Lord!

C:  To us, the light of the world draws near.

L:  Bear fruit worthy of repentance –

C:  Let justice and peace shine through us.

L: Go now, bearing God’s shalom, to love and to serve the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God! 

First Reading Isaiah 11:1-10 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: The first of three parts of Isaiah, likely penned by three different people, is filled with words of judgment. Interspersed are words of messianic promises, like today’s words of Eden restored.

A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,

    and a branch shall grow out of his roots.

The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him,

    the spirit of wisdom and understanding,

    the spirit of counsel and might,

    the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.

He shall not judge by what his eyes see,

    or decide by what his ears hear;

but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,

    and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;

he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,

    and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,

    and faithfulness the belt around his loins.

The wolf shall live with the lamb,

    the leopard shall lie down with the kid,

the calf and the lion and the fatling together,

    and a little child shall lead them.

The cow and the bear shall graze,

    their young shall lie down together;

    and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,

    and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.

They will not hurt or destroy

    on all my holy mountain;

for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD

    as the waters cover the sea.

Second Reading  Romans 15:4-13 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: The church at Rome included both converted Jews and Gentiles. The former still were keeping Jewish rituals and food laws; the Gentiles saw no reason to do so. Paul pleads for unity – food isn’t worth tearing the church apart.

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,

“Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles,

    and sing praises to your name”;

and again he says,

“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people”;

and again,

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,

    and let all the peoples praise him”;

and again Isaiah says,

“The root of Jesse shall come,

    the one who rises to rule the Gentiles;

in him the Gentiles shall hope.”

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Gospel  Matthew 3:1-12 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: Some 30 years have passed from Jesus’ birth and infancy in the first two chapters of Matthew. John’s ministry in the wilderness calls people to prepare for newness that is coming, by repenting and bearing fruit to become new themselves.

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the Lord,

    make his paths straight.’”

Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”