Advent IV

Theme: Peace

Hebrew Scripture: Micah 5.2-5

Gospel: Luke 1.39-55

Psalm: Psalm 113

Today we talked about peace, using this definition:

When we hear the word peace we usually associate this to mean an absence of war or strife but the Hebrew meaning of the word shalom has a very different meaning. The verb form of the root word is shalam and is usually used in the context of making restitution. When a person has caused another to become deficient in some way, such as a loss of livestock, it is the responsibility of the person who created the deficiency to restore what has been taken, lost or stolen. The verb shalam literally means to make whole or complete. The noun shalom has the more literal meaning of being in a state of wholeness or with no deficiency. The common phrase shalu shalom yerushalayim (pray for the peace of Jerusalem) is not speaking about an absence of war (though that is part of it) but that Jerusalem (and by extension all of Israel) is complete and whole and goes far beyond the idea of "peace".

To say that Jesus is God's peace is to say that he is God's fullness, God's completeness. "It is finished."

O come, desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind.
O, bid our sad divisions cease,
And be yourself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee O Israel!