Longing for Peace

Scripture — Matthew 3:1-12 (NRSV)

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 Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region around the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the River Jordan, confessing their sins.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Therefore, bear fruit worthy of repentance, and 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; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is more powerful than I, and 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.”

Devotion

In our assigned reading for this day, I am struck by the contrast of protest in light of a week focused on peace. As I read about the familiar witness of Jesus’s cousin, John the Baptist, who cries out in the desert to prepare the way for the Lord, his harsh words hardly bring me peace. So I pause and read slowly again…

Ah yes! Protest precedes peace! Repentance precedes reconciliation! People from Jerusalem, Judea, and around the Jordan were coming to the desert, even Pharisees and Sadducees. The pathway to peace begins with protest as John declares their need to repent. His call for repentance is not only for personal sins, but the sins of empire and burdensome religious leaders oppressing the people in need of peace.

If Jesus is the Prince of Peace, John is the prince of protest. John is protesting that things aren’t as they should be. He is an equal opportunity offender who cares not who has religious immunity by their roles in Jewish society nor where they fit in the lineage of Abraham. What I appreciate about John’s enthusiasm is that he self-implicates in the protest. He confesses that he himself is not worthy of untying the sandals of the one who is coming after him, for that One is greater than him. My water baptism is not enough, John says. The One who comes after me will baptize you with Holy Spirit and fire.

How do we live in light of this invitation? How do we live longing for peace in light of the Prince of Peace who has come and has promised to come again? Lest we think that John is yelling at us at this moment (he is not), may you remember that John’s name actually means “God is gracious.” In God’s grace and in light of all that we want to protest, may we find a pathway to peace in our longing for peace this Advent season. Make peace with yourself through Christ. Work for peace in our ruptured communities also in the valley of the shadow of empire with the strength of Christ. Know that the gospel is the love of God in the face of Christ. When I catch a glimpse of his face looking at my face, I know I usher in a peace that surpasses all understanding. May you experience the fruit of peace in keeping with repentance. The Christ child welcomes you with open arms.

Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: Jesus Calls the Disciples (Matthew 3-4).