Seeds Will Grow

Second Week of Advent

This is the second week of the Christian season called “Advent,” a time in our liturgical calendar when Christians look forward to God’s coming. We reflect on how God came to humanity in the form of a baby, grew into a man, taught the logic of love, healed the sick and the blind, and set free the captives and oppressed, defeating even the powers of sin and death. Jesus empowered his followers to do as he had done – amazingly sharing power with the people. We also reflect on the Christian hope of Jesus’ return and the coming kingdom that Jesus proclaimed, a kingdom very unlike the kingdoms of this world that use their power to dominate. This second week of advent, I reflect on these things as we light the candle of peace.

With political upheaval and an unended war here in Korea – many wars ongoing around the world – daily reports on the US-funded violence in Israel-Palestine – and constant concern for our family living in Sudan – this advent season finds me acutely aware of our world’s cry for peace. I see it in photos and videos from Gaza. I feel the longing deep in my soul. Do you?

I remember the biblical image of all of creation groaning, as if in childbirth, longing for the children of God to be revealed. Even our earth is in pain. It groans and shudders with a changing climate that brings disasters humans cannot escape. Who are the children of God that creation is crying out for? Who does it await? According to Jesus, these “children of God” are peacemakers. Could our world be waiting for you and me to live into our purpose?

What is your image of peace?

In preparation for the Catholic Korea Peace Forum a few months ago, participants were invited to share the image that comes to their mind when they thought of the word “peace.”

I chose the image of a tree with birds nesting in its branches, mostly because of a parable Jesus tells of the kingdom of God. Like a small seed planted, it will eventually grow into a tree that is full and flourishing with room to host life of all kinds. I believe that “peace” is what exists when all relationships are healthy and thriving – not just between humans – but between ecosystems and the divine. I believe peace is symbiosis in which all things flourish. I believe this peace will one day be achieved in the kingdom of God, but we are planting the seeds for that kingdom in our lives today.

So, I ask you, what image comes to your mind when you hear the word “peace”? If peacemakers are the children of God, we at least should have an image of what we’re cultivating in the world.

Power WITH the Weak, Not Over Them

I leave you with another scripture passage that has often been in my mind the past week. It is Mary’s song, the Magnificat, sung to her cousin when she realized God was miraculously coming to earth through her in the most humble way, as a vulnerable, needy baby.

My soul magnifies the Lord
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior;
Because the Lord has regarded me, God’s lowly servant;
From now on, all generations shall call me blessed;
Because the mighty God has done great things for me,
and holy is God’s name;
God’s mercy is toward the reverent,
From generation to generation.
The Lord’s mighty arm
Has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
God has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and has exalted the lowly.
God has filled the hungry with good things,
and has sent the rich away empty.
God has helped the servants;
The Lord is mindful of mercy.

The peace of the Lord be with you, my friends, and with our troubled world – in increasing measure, from this advent season into the kingdom to come.