2025/12/07 SCRIPTURE REFLECTION
Second Sunday of Advent
- Susie Courtney, Manager of New Member Engagement
The Gospel for the Second Sunday of Advent brings us back to John the Baptist — that bold voice in the wilderness reminding everyone to “prepare the way of the Lord.” It’s a loud message, but as we light the second candle in our Advent wreaths that light represents peace. At first, that might seem like a strange combination: a wild desert preacher shouting about repentance, and a quiet invitation to peace. But maybe the two are more connected than we think.
John isn’t demanding perfection; he’s inviting people to take an honest look at their lives and turn toward God. When you think about it, that’s actually the beginning of peace. A lot of the unrest in our hearts comes from being pulled in a hundred directions, holding onto things we don’t need, or carrying stress, worry, or resentment. Repentance— is letting go of some of that weight. It’s clearing the clutter inside of us so that God’s peace has somewhere to land in our hearts.
Advent always seems to fall right during the busiest, noisiest time of year. For many of us, December feels more like a sprint than a spiritual season. And yet the Church gives us this Sunday dedicated to peace — not the kind you find on holiday cards or perfect family photos, but the kind that starts deep in the heart. A peace that doesn’t depend on everything going right, but on making space for God to be close.
Isaiah’s vision in the first reading paints a picture of a peaceful world: predators living peacefully with prey, justice for the poor, harmony where you least expect it. It sounds like a dream, but Advent tells us that God’s dream for peace begins in small ways — in humble places, with honest hearts, just like that tiny shoot growing from the stump of Jesse. Even if our lives feel more like stumps than flourishing trees, God can bring peace and goodness out of them.
John the Baptist also talks about Jesus coming with the Holy Spirit and fire. While the visual of fire can sound intense, it also brings light and warmth — the kind of warmth that melts what’s frozen in us and the light that helps us see clearly again. That, too, is part of peace: letting God’s light fall on the parts of our lives we’ve been avoiding, so we can breathe a little easier.
So maybe this Advent, peace doesn’t mean everything is calm and perfect around us. Maybe peace is what happens when we give God even a small opening in the middle of the chaos. A few minutes of quiet. A moment of honesty. A choice to forgive. A deep breath when we feel overwhelmed. A simple prayer asking, “Lord, help me slow down. Be my peace.”
Preparing the way for Jesus doesn’t have to be dramatic. It can be as simple as choosing to interrupt our own stress long enough to notice God’s presence. Peace grows in tiny steps — the same way a shoot grows from a stump.
As we celebrate this Second Sunday of Advent, maybe John’s voice can help us clear the way, not just for repentance, but for peace — the kind that restores us, steadies us, and reminds us that God is near.
Come, Lord Jesus. Bring your peace into our hearts, our homes, and our world. One small step at a time.