For from Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
and impose terms on many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
one nation shall not raise the sword against another,
nor shall they train for war again.
O house of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of the Lord! (Is 2:3b-5)
Advent.
It is a holy season that begins a new liturgical. It is a season of preparation for the coming celebration of Christmas. It is a season that helps us to focus on our journey of faith.
The ability to focus is becoming a lost art for so many people. The world is filled with a lot of noise, distraction, and confusion. It is hard to see our way clearly many times. We all know that when we lose focus, we often go astray.
God’s people lost focus and strayed quite often. They found themselves enslaved, lost, defeated, and nearly destroyed time and time again. And yet, they could not seem to see clearly and save themselves from the terrors that came their way.
That is where we trip us as well. As humans, we suffer from the illusion that we can save ourselves. We cannot. The only one who can save us is God. Yet, we do not look to God for instruction, for guidance, or for encouragement. We often continue to look at the world and all the distractions therein.
Isaiah knew all of this. He knew that Israel’s lack of focus landed them in hot water. They were involved in wars and conflicts and that appeared to be their lot in life. He told them that did not have to be the case. Instead of marching to the beat of the worldly drummers, they should walk in the light of the Lord. Doing so, they would be able to cast aside their instruments of war and become a people of peace.
Peace. Is that not something we all long for in our own lives? If we truly want peace, we have to turn to the source of all peace: God.
God gave us His Son so that we would be able to see the way. This Advent season, let us do all that we can to walk in the light of the Lord so that our path to the kingdom may always remain clear!
FAITH ACTION: If you have not already done so, make an Advent wreath so that you can reflect upon the light of the Lord each day you light the candles.