Sermon - 2018-12-09

Today I am struck by the way that we are talking about Peace and yet the world that we strive for does not really seem to have it.  For the most part, we can even go back through human history and one of the great milestones that people remember are the wars. Now granted the United States has not seen war in our lands for about 75 years.  We do not know from first hand experience what chaotic unrest is like. Even when war has been on our land, a majority of our populace did not have to worry about bullets flying by their head, where their next meal would come, or where they would sleep tonight.  

For many of us, we can say that we know peace.  We live it however, we do not always realize it.  On December 7, our nation was attacked and officially entered us into the Second World War.  As we as a nation, united for the cause of defending our way of life. Many were willing to sacrifice whatever they could to support one another and some gave their whole life. The United States was in the Second World War for several years in which it shaped a nation, a generation, and even still reminds us of what good we can do together.

Today as we gather for worship though, wars throughout the world still continue.  We fight and argue about being treated fairly and yet, we speak of one another not as human or someone who we can relate to but simply as someone whom we are against.  Now I realize, you are only one person. You do not have the power and authority to stop a war. However, in this season of Advent, of preparing our heart and life for God’s Gift of His Own Son, we are drawn into a personal reflection.  It seems within our lives, Christmas is one of the only times that we actually do this again: look upon one another as a fellow human being and are willing to share what it is we have with one another. What are we doing to contribute to a world that is filled with peace, rather than hate?  It can start with being grateful for what it is we already have been given by God. It can continue to not simply treat one another as we would want to be treated but to truly treat them better.

While many of us do not change because we are only one person and what change can one person make.  We also need to recognize that you can also make a difference in the lives of all of the people who you encounter.  While Jesus encountered many, he changed their life. As Jesus encounters your life, may he also change your life.