December 10

Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7 Luke 2:8-20

“To Whom is Peace?”

“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” These are the familiar words of the angelic chorus in Luke 2:14, rendered in the New Living Translation.

Contrary to what perhaps most of are used to thinking, God’s peace comes with a condition attached to it. Peace comes to the person who pleases Him and seeks Him. God’s peace is not for everyone; it is for those who have turned their hearts to Him.[1]   This fits perfectly with the Old Testament prophecies and predictions of the coming Messiah, who was foretold to be a warrior for God, delivering His people while destroying His enemies.[2]     As Christmas draws nearer, our anticipation to the joyous celebration grows higher. But even before that, let your expectations run high for the coming of the Prince of Peace.

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His Wings. — Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

Application: Pray the Hours Praying the hours— stopping at fixed hours to pray— is a spiritual discipline that turns our hearts to God even as we carry out our daily activities. Also know as divine office, it has long been practiced by Christians over the centuries. Below you will find a longer prayer divided into three parts— morning, afternoon and evening. When the set time comes, quietly ease away from the obligations of home or work and take a few moments to spend time with God.

Prayer:[3]

God of prophets, in the wilderness of Jordan you sent a messenger to prepare our hearts for the coming of Your Son, the one who brings true peace into our world and into our lives. Help us to hear the good news, to repent, and so be ready to welcome our Saviour and to enter into the kingdom he brings.

Help us dear God to accept and to unwrap the gifts you give us; especially O God we ask you to help us accept the gift of peace. Help us to acknowledge our deep and abiding need for you and to confess that only you can help us find what we are looking for; That only you can help us repair our broken relationships; That only you can lead us to the peace you want us to have; Help us walk toward the light
. … … …
 Loving God, as we have prayed for ourselves, so we pray for others. Many are in despair through physical hardship, seeking relief from their burdens, and hope in the midst of their cares. Others have minds and souls filled with hatred, lives shackled by prejudices and the terrible obsessions that lead to war and to that which is worse. Come to them with the help that they desperately need. Come to them with the gift of healing and the gift of seeking, come to them with the gift of loving and the gift of having found.

Your church in all the world also needs saving from everything that threatens its mission. O Lord, where it is persecuted, keep it faithful. Where it persecutes, rebuke it. Where it is seduced by affluence, shake it. Where it is self-satisfied, unsettle it. Where it is weak, poor, and meek, bless it with your joy, peace and strength
. … … …
 Father, we give you thanks for your peace, for gift to us and for how you have promised it to the whole world. This day we know some of that peace within our own experience: we know what it is to be made whole, that it is to walk through the wilderness and then to enter the promised land; we know what it is to depend on you and to find that you do not fail. We hold before you now those in our midst: some who need the peace we have prayed for today, some who need a healing touch, some who need comforting, and some who celebrate your goodness toward them.

Hear our prayers, O God, for (BIDDING PRAYER).

 Thank you Lord for your many gifts. Keep alive in us the spirit of seeking, that we may also have the spirit of having found. We ask it in the name of the one who taught us to pray for your kingdom to come and for your will to be done, Christ Jesus your Son and our Saviour. Amen

[1]"To Whom Is the Peace?" http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=890 (Accessed on November 22, 2013).
[2] Ibid.
[3] Richard J. Fairchild, "Sermon and Liturgy (2) for The Second Sunday of Advent - Year A," Sermons and Sermon- Lectionary Resources, http://www.rockies.net/~spirit/sermons/a-ad02sm.php (Accessed on Nov 22, 2013.)