“Peace Grows” Colchester Federated Church, December 8, 2024, Second Sunday of Advent (Luke 2:13-14 & Luke 10:1-6)

“Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guarding their sheep at night.  The Lord’s angel stood before them, the Lord’s glory shone around them, and they were terrified.”[1]  As Luke tells the story of Jesus’ birth, the scene changes from Mary laying her child in the manger (because there was no place for them in the guestroom), to shepherds living in the fields guarding their sheep in the night. 

On the First Sunday of Advent, we contemplated hunger and hope.  Emmanuel, God-with-Us, comes to us and connects us for God’s kingdom.  Yet this happens in an unexpected way.  It ends up that the manger, the humble feeding box for animals, will symbolize the purpose of Jesus’ ministry—to feed a world hungry for the presence of God.  We remembered that Jesus would one day look out with compassion upon hungry crowds and perform a miracle of multiplication to feed people with five loaves of bread and two fish.  Though that was not just about addressing physical hunger as Jesus wanted his followers to see the miracle of hope defying fear and despair spiritually.

On this Second Sunday of Advent, we are contemplating humility and peace.  Because it ends up that shepherds are the first people to hear the good news of Jesus’ birth.  And that matters.  Once again, Advent is making us look for God in all those places we have until now ignored.  Today we are exploring who exactly witnessed the coming of the Prince of Peace.  We begin with ordinary shepherds.  Luke tells us that these shepherds were living in the fields.  Homiletics Professor O. Wesley Allen Jr. reminds us that “these shepherds are not necessarily the landowners who own the flock and the fields—those persons are asleep in the comfort of their homes.  The shepherds in the text are more likely the night-shift slaves or low-paid wage earners who protect the flock at night.”[2] 

The angels don’t appear to the high and mighty any more than Jesus is born in luxurious comfort.  The message of the birth of the Messiah is announced to modest folks who are protecting the sheep entrusted to their care.  All of whom make room for a weary family in need of shelter.

Jesus is born in very humble circumstances.  His birth is announced to “lowly” people and the peace of our Savior is first announced to those who labor in fields in the middle of the night.  Is it any wonder that these shepherds were told to not be afraid before hearing the heavenly host proclaim, “Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom [God] favors”?[3]

Luke places the peace of God—peace among those whom God favors—among shepherds.  We know this story so well that this amazing power reversal could get lost on us.  And it gets even better from there.  Jesus will grow up and become a teacher and healer.  Jesus could have lorded his power and might over other people.  He could have emulated the Roman Emperor Augustus who was worshiped as a savior of sorts because Augustus brought peace after years of war in the Roman Empire.[4]  Yet Jesus chose a different way to be in the world.  The baby born in humble circumstances whose birth was first announced to ordinary shepherds living in the fields will become a man who commissions ordinary people to spread his message of lovingkindness. 

Later in the Gospel according to Luke, there will be seventy-two of Jesus’ followers sent out in pairs to every city and place that Jesus himself was about to go.  Jesus warned them that they would be going out as lambs among wolves.  He gave specific instructions: “Carry no wallet, no bag, and no sandals.  Don’t even greet anyone along the way.  Whenever you enter a house, first say, ‘May peace be on this house.’  If anyone there shares God’s peace, then your peace will rest on that person.  If not, your blessing will return to you.”[5]  There are a great many things that are fascinating about these instructions.  The level of trust this took from Jesus’ followers is unbelievable.  I don’t know about you, but I can’t even run errands around town without my wallet and purse and water and all sorts of other necessities that I just need, okay?

Isn’t it amazing to think that Jesus delegated power and authority to seventy-two ordinary people whose names we don’t even know? These folks are appointed to go before Jesus to prepare the way for him.  They have to take their task seriously and avoid distractions on their journeys.  The seventy-two are encouraged to travel light and to be aware that they will face danger.  They are being sent out as lambs among wolves—doesn’t that sound ominous?  The mission before them is to share the Good News of the coming of Christ to ordinary people just like them.  The peace of God is fulfilled when ordinary people work together to help create the Kingdom of God here on earth.

In the Gospel according to Luke, we move from Jesus born as the Prince of Peace whose birth is announced to those humble shepherds living in the fields to Jesus sending out seventy-two ordinary followers to share God’s peace with one and all.  As Jesus commanded, “Whenever you enter a house, first say, ‘May peace be on this house.’  If anyone there shares God’s peace, then your peace will rest on that person.”[6] 

Now peace in these stories is not necessarily the absence of conflict.  It’s not as if Jesus was born and the world all of a sudden became a peaceful place where nation did not go to war against nation and neighbor no longer harmed neighbor.  If only that were so.  Perhaps we need to expand our understanding of peace.  For instance, Martin Luther King Jr. taught that, “Peace is not merely the absence of some negative force—war, tensions, confusion—but the presence of some positive force—justice, goodwill, the power of the kingdom of God.”[7]  That is what we see in these Gospel stories—the presence of some positive force and the power of the realm of God among us.

On this Second Sunday of Advent, we can wonder what these stories have to say to us.  Peacemakers are called blessed for a reason.  Just as we cannot give into hopelessness, we cannot give in to powerlessness and think that peace is impossible.  Peace can begin with us.  Maybe peace is not the absence of negative forces, but the presence of positive forces.  Maybe peace is about forces like compassion, love, and living out Kingdom values where we look out for one another.  May it be so, and thanks be to God.  Amen.

[1] Luke 2:8-9, CEB.
[2] O Wesley Allen Jr., Commentary on Luke 2:8-20, Working Preacher, December 25, 2016, https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=2996
[3] Luke 2:14.
[4] Commentary on Advent Two in From the Manger Liturgy & Commentary, Illustrated Ministry, 2024, pg. 14.
[5] Luke 10:4-6.
[6] Luke 10:5-6.
[7] Martin Luther King Jr., “When Peace Becomes Obnoxious,” delivered at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, March 18, 1956, as quoted in From the Manger from Illustrated Ministry, pg. 14.

Photo by Sterling Lanier on Unsplash