And His Name Shall Be Called – Prince of Peace
Advent I
Larry V. Smoose
Reformation, Media
The number of hate groups in America continued to grow in 2006, rising 5% over the year before to 844 groups. That increase translated into a 40% jump in the number of groups since 2000, when there were 602 hate groups operating in America, according to research by the Intelligence Project of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). This includes the Neo-Nazi’s with 81 chapters in 36 states; Skinheads, Neo-confederates, and white nationalists. "Operation Schoolyard," an attempt in the 2004-2005 school year to distribute 100,000 free racist music CDs to schoolchildren.
Over the past several months we have read about nooses being hung over the doorknob of African American faculty members and black student lockers.
In Pennsylvania a couple of weeks ago, our legislators would not approve a single gun law, including a proposal to have a gun registry for lost and stolen guns. Police officers and police chiefs overwhelmingly support the legislation. 60% of voters favor some form of gun control, but despite that, the measures could not get out of committee. The fact is that even efforts to ban assault weapons has failed. I own guns and I am a hunter, but the truth is that guns are out of control in our nation.
A fifteen year old shoots a five year old, and we find out it is the third or fourth assault by this teenager. Violence in our city and nation is spiraling up. Schools in suburbs as well as the city discover kids in school with guns and pent-up anger or rage, often because of bullying or teasing taken to an extreme.
The violence is not limited to firearms, nor to our streets and schools. We see it on our roads – and I have to say with humility and sincere penance, I have lost my temper on the road and been angry to the point of shouting and gestures that is embarrassing, and I have made strong, intentional efforts to change and believe I have made significant progress. It is frightening to discover those emotions of anger and rage in ourselves. But they are present – yes, here, in our community and our congregation.
There is violence in our homes – not only physical abuse and violence, but verbal abuse, that is demeaning and caustic. It degrades individuals and weakens our own character. It can be disrespect for parents or sarcastic jabs to a spouse or a put down of a child – all of it is grounded in attitudes of personal insecurity, desire for expression of power, or deflected response for some violence that has been received.
A call for an end of violence, in every form, would be appropriate at anytime and anyplace, but it is especially appropriate at this time of year, in this place, for we gather here to worship the one whose name is called “Prince of Peace.”
During Advent, I am going to preach a series – And His Name Shall be Called – Wonderful Counsellor; Mighty God; Everlasting Father; Prince of Peace. Today’s lesson from Isaiah compels me to begin with the final name – Prince of Peace. Listen again to the Word of the Lord from Isaiah – but let’s begin at the beginning in chapter 1:
Ah, sinful nation, people laden with iniquity, children who deal corruptly, who have forsaken the Lord and despised the Holy One of Israel . . . Why do you seek further beatings? The whole body is sick, . . . from the sole of the foot to the head, there is no soundness in it, but bruises, and sores and bleeding wounds; . . .Your hands are full of blood, . . . remove the evil of your doings . . . cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.”
These excerpts are part of a larger narrative that describes a nation that is in trouble, people who have forgotten their heritage and do not have respect for other people or any concern for those who are marginalized in society. They have forgotten God’s ways and ignored the values that helped make a great nation. It is in the midst of this crisis of faith and values that we have to read the words of our first lesson.
In the days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains; . . . all nations shall stream to it and people will say, Come, let us go to the house of the Lord that he may teach us his ways . . . For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and he shall judge between the nations and they shall beat their swords into plowshares and the swords into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”
In the midst of their national crisis, a crisis that includes both internal concerns of violence and external issues of foreign policy, Isaiah gives us both a challenge and a promise from God. The promise is that God has not forgotten us and will not forsake us. The days are coming when God’s house will be elevated as the most visible place of worship and people will be eager for God’s teachings and God’s Word shall be the basis for judging between nation and arbitration among people.
In that day, swords will be beaten into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks, nation shall not lift up sword against nation and shall not learn war anymore. God is relentless in his efforts to end violence and bring about peace on earth. God is untiring in his concern for us and wants everyone in the world to be able to live together with respect and in safety. In every age, God promises to send those who will bring that word of instruction and teach people the way to experience the presence of God and the peace of God.
We need only to look at significant events in our own lifetimes to be able to see how God’s promise continues to be fulfilled today.
Two weeks ago, at a Rotary program, I was watched in wonder and appreciation as our guest speaker talked about his work during the past two years to build a peace memorial in Uganda. It was a place where the bones of victims of this terrible inter-tribal war might be brought as a final resting place. Virtually everyone here has been effected by the war. There were killings, rape, torture, and more. The terrible reality is that in some instances it was a neighbor or person in the same village who was the perpetrator. For you and I it is unimaginable. And now they have to try to determine how to live in peace – how to confess, repent, and forgive.
Yes, that ritual that we perform every Sunday at the beginning of worship, suddenly has deep, new meaning. Those who killed and maimed have to admit their crimes, tell where the bones of their victims are buried, so that they can be brought to this place of peace for proper, respectful burial, and then ask for forgiveness. Those who are the survivors, are being asked to forgive. And, it is working. Imagine, a ritual that we follow, by rote, as a basis for renewal and peace.
They got this model from South Africa. There was fear that as the apartheid system was dismantled, violence and terrible warfare might occur. A group of leaders, including bishop Desmond Tutu gathered to talk about how to avoid bloodshed and help bring about a peaceful transition. The decision was made to use an ancient church model – those who had committed crimes must be honest and confess them, in return, they would not go to prison and be able to receive forgiveness. And it worked.
It is the kind of non-violent action, based on the power of love, that Martin Luther King Jr. used to begin the process of dismantling racism in our country – a process that needs to continue as we face the continue presence of white supremacist organizations and on-going denial about the extent of racism in our country. But as is evident in so many instances around the world, where the power of love is used, where confession and forgiveness are truly practiced, peace prevails.
And we have seen it’s power in the wondrous actions of the Amish community of Nickle Mines. There they were able to transform spent bullets into acts of mercy; make a school of nightmares into a peaceful memorial; and place the balm of healing love on the wounds of a community whose scars now become the visible marks of a wounded Lord whose example they follow because his name is Prince of Peace.
That is why the Isaiah passage ends with a challenge, or perhaps a plea from God: “O House of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.” There it is – a plea, a voice of deep concern for our well-being – come, let us walk in the light of the Lord. In the midst of the darkness of the violence that plagues our land, Let there be light! Wherever there is alienation and separation, whether it be between family or friend, community or country, let there be reconciliation. Wherever there is displaced anger and frustration, hurt and fear that gives rise to violence, let there be peace.
Isaiah understands that peace, true peace, is not simply an end to armed conflict, nor is it accomplished by government leaders signing a piece of paper. Peace begins when individuals and communities are reconciled, when wrongs are admitted and forgiveness offered and lives are lived differently as a result. Peace occurs when respect for others is evident in our speech and actions, and when concern for the well-being of others is integrated into our daily lives. Peace occurs when the hurts we have experienced, the wounds we have received and the scars that we bear are healed. It means sometimes we must ask for forgiveness, and sometimes we must be able to forgive. Sometimes we can be the healer, and other times we will need healing.
This is a true challenge, and an honest plea from God, so that we might be able to experience the wonder and joy of peace in our lives. I don’t know what is necessary for you to experience this peace and for you to be a peacemaker – but I do know that for all of us, this is a worthwhile challenge. I do know that for hatred to be healed, violence to end and wars to cease, we must respond to this plea. Our families, our schools, our workplace, our community, our nation and our world will benefit if we can walk in the light of the Lord and claim our heritage as followers of the one who is called “Prince of Peace.” Amen.