ADVENT I
November 27, 2022
“From Instruments of Destruction to Farm Tools”
“Many peoples shall come and say,
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
. . . that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’ ” He shall judge between the nations and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.” Isaiah 2:3a, 4
The first Sunday in Advent designates the beginning of a new church year, and our expectation is that if something is new, it will be different from everything that has gone before. But then we come to church or follow online, and the Old Testament reading is from the prophet Isaiah, words which are literally thousands of years old. Although these verses include ancient, historic references, they have a timeless nature, and they can help us understand the meaning and purpose of this Sunday and the three that will follow. We can begin by recognizing the commonality of human experience, as in the fact that the similarities are much greater than the differences. Our initial reaction may be that this gap is too great to bridge, as we have nothing at all in common with the ancient people. Yet, as we read and hear these texts, we find that they touch our hearts, inspire us, and offer us both comfort and hope.
Throughout the book of Isaiah, the prophet calls out warnings and cautions to sinners, wrongdoers, and those who turn away from God’s will. He then goes on to tell that the coming judgment of the Lord will bring peace, and that the law, along with his mercy, brings people into a right relationship with God. Jesus himself told his disciples why he was sent to live among people as a human — that he came not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. God’s law and his mercy are not at odds; rather, they are closely connected.
The verses from Isaiah 2, with the references to swords and spears, plowshares and pruning hooks can sound quaint and old-fashioned, but the message remains clear. Our world is yearning for an end to conflict, war, death and destruction. Trying to envision instruments of war, whether swords and spears or bombs and rockets, being turned to purposes that could benefit humanity rather than destroy it, could certainly be considered a waste of time, and an impossible hope.
There has never been a decade, a generation, or a century in which these words of promise have not been needed. There is good news even in the midst of violence and uncertainty, and in the coming weeks we will learn of the fulfillment of God’s promises in the person of Christ Jesus. This is the message of hope that our weary world desperately needs to hear, that we are called to share with all humanity.
Come, Lord Jesus!
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers