Prayers Advent Reflections

Thursday

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10   
Isaiah 41:13-20; Psalm 145; Matthew 11:11-15

The great spiritual writers constantly remind us how costly the peace of God's Kingdom can be. Conflict and struggle are an inevitable part of our work of discerning and proclaiming the presence of that Kingdom in our world.

It could hardly be otherwise, for the fullness of the peace we long for ultimately calls us beyond ourselves. As Marty Haugen's hymn, "Shepherd Me, O God," puts it, we ask to be brought "beyond our wants, beyond our fears, from death into life." The disarming truth here is that our very openness to God’s peace requires us to confront daily our own resistance and even rejection of it. Avoiding conflict would be so much easier!

For His part, Jesus is extraordinarily clear-eyed about it all. "From the days of John the Baptist until now," he says to the crowds, "The Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force" (Mt. 11:12). John is already in prison (Mt. 4:12) for proclaiming the Kingdom. He will soon be dead. Ironically, this violence – and the violent – are in their own way witnesses to the peaceable Kingdom. It is the Kingdom which cannot be taken by force or otherwise…only welcomed as gift.

Paul J. Wojda, PhD
Associate Professor, Director of Mission Integration Morrison Family College of Health, University of St. Thomas
(St. Paul, MN)

Pause

What makes it difficult to move from a passive conflict-avoider to an active peace-promoter?

Pray

God of the Universe, Creator of Light and Dark: You have formed us together as one body to proclaim Your peace. Draw us beyond our own narrowness to recognize Christ within ourselves and one another. Help us to choose unity – humility over pride and patience over anger. Make in us Your dwelling place, O God, that we may be worthy builders of Your Kingdom and true instruments of Your grace. Amen.