December 1st, 2019 - Download a Worship Bulletin Above Isaiah 2:1-5
The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In days to come the mountains of the LORD's house shall be established as the highest of mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways, and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD. Several years ago, I became enamored with the United Nations. From all of the languages being spoken to the gathering of a diverse group of people from around the world, there was something about the UN that captivated me. The first time I visited the UN was with my home church back in Connecticut. One of our ministry leaders set up a seminar with the UN Church Center, which overlooks the flag-laden park of the United Nations. The UN Church Center is a beautiful building several stories high that houses multiple non-profits and non-governmental agencies, working to eliminate global poverty, slow and reverse climate change, advocate for gender equality, and promote peace across the world. The bottom storey of the UN Church Center is dedicated to an interfaith chapel with gorgeous stained glass windows and simple elements that can be moved or changed depending on who is using the space. It is truly a gathering of all nations, cultures, creeds, races, religions, ethnicities, and languages. It is an inclusive vision of heaven, of all people being welcomed into the efforts of making the world a better place. The phrase, “gathering of the nations” also refers to the gathering of the Native American tribal nations in which all people from the north, south, east, and west gather to remember their ancestors before them and dream into the future. This morning’s scripture reading comes to us from Isaiah, who arose as a prophet during political turmoil within his nation. Despite the ever-growing divide between the rich and the poor, the extreme polarization that pitted friends against each other, and the conflict that seemed like it would never end, Isaiah stands in direct contrast to the reality at hand. He says that in the days to come, God’s kingdom will be established and all people will be drawn to it; we will all want to bask in its glory and revel in its beauty. Isaiah speaks a word from God, a word of peace - of destroying swords and spears, and refashioning them into gardening tools. The weapons of violence that wound relationships will be transformed into a means of nurturing community, and we will learn war no more. This particular passage in Isaiah is often referred to as the “floating oracle of peace” because it appears more than once in the Scriptures. It is an everlasting hope that bears repeating, over and over again - hope is on the horizon. It reassures readers that this peace is possible, even when the powers at play may seem to overwhelm us. Indeed, this passage is carved into a stone wall at the United Nations - in the photograph on your bulletin and on the screen. These words are a vision of hope that one day we will lay aside our weapons and find peace waiting for us there, in that moment of surrender. You see, even in Isaiah's time, the nations were looking to God for peace in the midst of great conflict. Isaiah's words of hope not only provide an opportunity to set hearts at ease, but also have the power to galvanize relationships that were once at odds with one another. The phrase in the passage, “in the latter days,” or “in the last days,” refers not to a time that is to come, but rather in its original Hebrew form, refers to time within the current era. So what does this mean? It means that transformation is possible here and now. We're not simply called to be peacekeepers, but rather, peacemakers, partnering with God to offer a radical welcome to all people, because all people are seeking something bigger than themselves. This might mean risking our standing in society or our reputation for the sake of the full inclusion of others into the Body of Christ. It means that we will have to work toward becoming a peacemaker - actively engaging in relationships that stretch our own character past mere tolerance of others and into deeper understanding and love for others. Though the gathering of the nations comes about through God's call, we also have work to do. You see, this passage is that it isn’t addressed to any particular group of people - it’s not for the Israelites or the people of Judah. Rather, it is a general call to recognize the ways in which we’ve been warring with one another and how God is calling us toward peace - toward transforming our weapons of violence and conflict into tools for building community and wellness. It is an expansive call for all people, once again an inclusive message that beckons all to come to the table, to be a part of a new reality, to walk in the Light of God rather than being caught up in darkness. For many of us, this weekend was full of family celebrations, tables groaning under plates of turkey and mashed potatoes, and even Black Friday sales. As we turn our eyes toward Christmas, we make travel plans, buy gifts and begin wrapping (and potentially hide them in our closets away from prying eyes), mail out holiday cards, and bake way too many cookies - 'tis the season! And though it can be easy to forget the real meaning of Christmas, these warm and fuzzy practices are important in their own ways because it points to something innately human about the season. One commentary puts it this way: “The reason the cultural messages are so powerful is that our human yearning is so real, and so profound.” (Feasting on the Word) What is it that we're longing for? What is about this season that can cause intense feelings of nostalgia and warmth for some, while others find this time of year unbearable in its own ways, and perhaps incredibly lonely and empty? We all know that the holidays can be a difficult time for family gatherings; often times, holidays aren’t the rosy enveloping visions we hope to see. We are a gathering of imperfect families, families that may be dysfunctional for a variety of reasons. But we attempt to get together anyway, we risk the arguments around the table because we have this longing to be reconciled with one another. I would argue that it is a longing to belong - a longing to have a place at the table, to be warm and fed, to have family to come home to, to be valued and loved. And yet, as one scholar puts it, “it is so much easier to pin our hopes on Christmas gifts and holiday feasts than it is to open ourselves to the possibility of believing in the seemingly impossible.” (Feasting on the Word) The ultimate hope of this season is that we shall overcome all darkness; that as we light a new candle each week, our lives will become brighter as we witness change on the horizon. Whether that change is reconciliation within our families, or newfound peace within our nation and world, our hope stands strong because we place it in Christ, the manifestation of Love incarnate. Through Christ, we recognize that conflict can be transformed into community, and we can encounter Holy Ground as we look toward God for our hope. And as we gather together around the table of Jesus, the ultimate pioneer of the table that is wide and long enough to support all people, may we find the peace for which we’re looking. May we make room in our hearts and lives for the gathering of the nations, of all people who seek reconciliation. And may we walk within the light of God, forever changed and always loved. Amen. - Pastor Christy Wright
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