A Dream of Hope in Troubled Times


First Sunday of Advent – December 1st, 2019


Isaiah 2:1-5, Roman 13:11-14, Matthew 24.37-44




The passage from Isaiah could be seen as God’s plan for nations.  The passages from Romans and Matthew, elaborate on the ways to get there.
The almost unending state of war that is going on in various parts of the world and the threat of climate catastrophe are the backdrop of the dream that follows.  I say dream because it is a vision of hope for the coming of God's intended world of peace and justice for all and where “all nations will walk in God's light. “

Isaiah was writing in the time of early agrarian societies. In those days during times of war, potentates forced farmers to melt down their pitchforks, hoes and other farm tools so that they could be turned to tools of war.  Farm implements along with their owners were conscripted to fight in the armies of potentates.  Today, scientists are conscripted by the military and industrial agents of various countries to turn their discoveries into implements for chemical and nuclear war.  Isaiah is saying this could be reversed.  These implements and discoveries could be used to grow food and in our day new discoveries could be used for health and other benefits.  If we wake up and “walk in the light of the LORD.”

Paul mistakenly thought that Christ’s second coming and therefore, the end of the world was imminent.  Today scientists tell us that unless we wake up and change our ways, the end of the world as we know it will be a reality.   Paul tells us, “Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day.”  Some but not all of the works of darkness today are a lack of compassion, over-consumption, willful ignorance, xenophobia, racism and apathy.  I name these because they contribute to the dehumanization of others and allow us to ignore their suffering.  They also allow us to refuse to acknowledge that what we do has consequences for good or for ill.  To start to live honourably as in the day as Paul suggests, we need overcome our apathy.  We have to wake up and walk in the light of Christ.

Matthew says we do not know the day or the hour but for the inhabitants of small Pacific islands, the south coast of Florida, the Bahamas, and places ravaged by fires, sea rise and hurricanes of increased intensity, the day and hour seem to be now.  Keep awake and stay awake is the message of Paul and Matthew.  We must wake up to the conditions that are threatening the lives of people near and far.  The refusal to remain ignorant can foster the compassion necessary for us to embrace the simple living the climate crisis requires.  We have to wake up and follow the light of Christ.

Everyday people, led by youth, have united for the good of the world to urge governments to address climate change.  Now let’s imagine as John Lennon wrote,
Imagine there's no countries,
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion, too
Burning witches and heretics, jihads, ethnic cleansing and war are not part of God’s plan, whether we call God, God or Allah, or an Unnameable One.  God by any name is a God of love.  So, imagine if the people of the world united for peace and what If the people of the world began to realize there is no inhuman other or them; there is only a global us.  Like the undeclared Christmas truce that happened between German and Allied soldiers during WWII, for a brief moment, they saw each other as just men and celebrated Christ’s birth together.  That is my hope, that enough of us begin to imagine peace to transform this dream into reality.  Then we can turn instruments of war into tools for the benefit of humanity and as Isaiah says, “nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”  Let us dream this dream in hope, as we enter into Advent in hope to celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace.  Let us pray for the wisdom to wake up and follow in the light of Christ.

Please share your thoughts.

 

Comments

Julett Clare said…
It is difficult to imagine world peace when within families, there is division and disharmony. In my elder years I do not have the energy to be in the presence of people who are caught up in deceit, anger or malicious behavior. Following the command to love one another becomes my blueprint. Leaving Others to heal and love is in God's hands, so praying for others is my fall back position.
8:38 am
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