Today’s Lectionary Readings: Psalm 122; Isaiah 2:1-5; Matthew 24:36-44; Romans 13:11-14; Psalm 145
Each Advent season I love hearing the words of the prophets create an image of the One for whom we wait. Their words create such a stark contrast between the “what is” and the “what could be”. The sense of possibility is amazing! In today’s passage, Isaiah does a beautiful job creating a vision of transformation. He talks about swords being transformed into plowshares – spears being turned into pruning hooks. Often we hear these words of transformation and relate them solely to those things outside ourselves. Today, I invite you to do a personal inventory and see if there are parts of yourself that are the equivalent of a sword – maybe your anger, your fear, your jealousy. Find that part of yourself. Now, take that piece and spend some time imagining how that part of yourself might look if it were transformed into something more positive: the equivalent of a plowshare. Imagine, for instance, if your anger were transformed into a passion that motivated you to get out and help others. Imagine if your jealousy were transformed into a sense of love and appreciation that caused you to grow deeper into your relationship with another. Just think what might happen. Real peace might be achieved in the one place that matters most: your heart. Til next time…
Each Advent season I love hearing the words of the prophets create an image of the One for whom we wait. Their words create such a stark contrast between the “what is” and the “what could be”. The sense of possibility is amazing! In today’s passage, Isaiah does a beautiful job creating a vision of transformation. He talks about swords being transformed into plowshares – spears being turned into pruning hooks. Often we hear these words of transformation and relate them solely to those things outside ourselves. Today, I invite you to do a personal inventory and see if there are parts of yourself that are the equivalent of a sword – maybe your anger, your fear, your jealousy. Find that part of yourself. Now, take that piece and spend some time imagining how that part of yourself might look if it were transformed into something more positive: the equivalent of a plowshare. Imagine, for instance, if your anger were transformed into a passion that motivated you to get out and help others. Imagine if your jealousy were transformed into a sense of love and appreciation that caused you to grow deeper into your relationship with another. Just think what might happen. Real peace might be achieved in the one place that matters most: your heart. Til next time…
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