the gospel of peace (luke 1. 79)

By the tender mercy of our God
the dawn from on high
will break upon us
to give light to those who sit in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet in the way of peace.

Luke 1. 79

My prayer for you today is that the light would shine in dark places to give you a sense that all will be well. Advent is surely the experience in our own lives of the darkness of a troubled night giving way to the rising of the sun. It may not even be a stretch to say that it is also an opening of the tomb before the reality of resurrection life.

Jesus, the coming Messiah, would be called the “prince of peace” (Isaiah 9. 6). Jesus, the resurrected Lord, says three times, “peace be with you” (John 20. 19, 20, 26).

Surely, we pray for the peace of the Lord in places like Iraq and Afghanistan and Israel. Surely, we pray for the peace of the Lord among estranged groups within our own country. Surely, we pray for the peace of the Lord in our own lives.

For this very purpose the Messiah comes:

To guide our feet in the way of peace.