Scripture & Reflection: Sunday 7th December and for the week ahead:Scripture: 'In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, ‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”' (Matthew 3.1-3) Reflection:Jesus’ cousin John was born before Jesus. In his birth and life he proclaimed himself as preparing the way – a way, a path, that requires us to clear away the obstructions that get in the way of peace of heart and mind; admitting to ourselves and to God the things that are troubling us. We are preparing to celebrate the assurance given by the birth of a baby that God is with us, not against us. We are also looking to prepare ourselves for a fuller experience of the Kingdom, any time. No need to wait! David Harmsworth
Scripture 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. 4 He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. Isaiah 2.2- 4ReflectionThis vision of a peaceful future, where peoples and nations will live together in peaceful coexistence and where even training for warfare is abolished and weapons are turned into farming implements, feels very far away at this precise moment. As we look back into history, we can see that many periods in the past were also marked by great uncertainty or worse. Even though we might not feel it, statistically the world has actually become a safer and more peaceful place.But Isaiah’s vision is not only for peace, but also for a time when people will turn to God, eager to learn the right peaceful ways to live from Him and to ‘walk in his paths.’As this week marks the start of Advent, the time when we are waiting; waiting for the birth of the Saviour, Jesus Christ, waiting for new life and new hope to be born in our hearts and in our world, maybe this vision of peace can give us sustenance. Revd Ylva
