Blog
Second Sunday of Advent
Waiting for the Prince of Peace
Malachi 3:1–4
Luke 3:1–6
by Shanae Als
As it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,
—Luke 3:4–6 (NSRVUE)
“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight,
and the rough ways made smooth,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”
From Genesis, we learned about the prophecy of the Messiah. Fast forward about 4,000 years, and Jesus is (finally) here, a living testament of the more than 50 prophecies that preceded him. During the time of waiting, there were periods of joy and sadness and stories of war, faith, fear, famine, and a flood. Through all of this, the legacy of hope—waiting for what God promised—remained at the forefront and it needs to continue even now.
As United Women in Faith members, we sometimes cannot wrap our heads around what is going on in the world. As Christians, we know that Jesus is the fulfillment of a promise and the prophecy says, He will come again. So, what must one do during the “waiting period,” especially in anxious and uncertain times? The answer: Find peace and stay prayerful!
I am reminded of the 2020 Mission u study, Finding Peace in an Anxious World, where the author uses theologian Reinhold Niebuhr’s Serenity Prayer as a four-part guide to “finding peace.” In addition, we sometimes forget that peace could mean being still and taking care of oneself. It is not easy walking around with the weight of the world on your shoulders and even though we may not have all the words to express it, God understands our prayers and knows our struggle. We are a people whose ancestors have a legacy and a story of steadfast hope, prayer, and a prophecy 6,000 years in the making
As we light the purple candle of peace, remember patience is a virtue, and God is in control as we wait for our Prince of Peace.
Prayer
Shalom to you now, shalom, my friends.
May God’s full mercies bless you, my friends.
In all your living, and through your loving, Christ be your shalom, Christ be your shalom. Amen.
—From “Shalom to You,” The United Methodist Hymnal, no. 666
Shanae Als is a member from the New York Conference who enjoys learning about social advocacy.
The photograph is from the 2024 Daily Prayer Guide.
