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WUMFSA Devotionals for Advent to Epiphany, 2003 - 2004 Monday, January 3, 2005 IT’S SOMETHING YOU MAKE Isaiah 60:1-6 Good news! The Prince of Peace has been born anew in and among us and everybody knows because we told them so with Christmas carols playing in the shopping malls. By now, of course, the carols have been replaced because most folks are “sick of hearing six weeks of the same old songs,” but we’re sure they got the point. Isn’t it obvious that Christmas has arrived and that the Prince of Peace rules our hearts, our minds and our lives? Maybe it’s not so obvious. Christmas has arrived, so where is the peace? Jesus looked toward the city of Jerusalem and wept. “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.” We read about centuries and centuries of Jesus’ ancestors and weep for them and their separation from God. God gave these people life and faith and yet they could not see the things that make for peace. We read about Jesus’ contem- poraries and weep for them and their separation from God. Jesus preached and taught and healed right before their very eyes and yet they could not see the things that make for peace. We read about centuries and centuries of generations following Jesus and weep for their separation from God…our separation from God. God has been and is revealed in myriad ways on a daily basis and yet they do not see the things that make for peace…we do not see the things that make for peace. Isaiah helps make it clear that it is up to us to make peace. His words are not passive. His are words of action! “Arise, shine…lift up your eyes and look around…then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice…proclaim the praise of the Lord.” Making peace is about standing up and speaking up for what is right. “Arise, shine!” Making peace is about living in the ways of justice on a daily basis. “Lift up your eyes and look around!” Making peace is about recognizing that change is necessary, risky, and energizing. “Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice.” Making peace is our faithful response to the God of truth, grace and justice. “Proclaim the praise of the Lord.” How will I make peace today? “Peace is not something you wish for, it’s something you make, something you do,
Tina Lang All contents copyright 2003 by the Wisconsin Chapter of the Methodist Federation for Social Action. Permission is granted to United Methodist congregations, individuals and groups to reproduce and distribute this devotional without charge. All other use requires the advance permission of the editor.
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