Peace - Isaiah 11:1-10 - Advent 2a - 12-4-22

 

Sermon podcast from the Second Sunday of Advent, 12-4-22 worship service - St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL.  Isaiah 11:1-10

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"Peace" podcast

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Peace

Sermon podcast from the second Sunday of Advent, December 8, 2019, at St. Paul' UCC in Downers Grove, IL.  Isaiah 11:1-10.

Video sermon preview
"Peace" podcast

Peace

Sermon podcast from St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL  - Deccember 4, 2016
"Peace" podcast

Animal House

This week's Bible reflection (Peace) provides the underlying message in yesterday's "Yes -- there's a whole lot about the 1978 movie too" Advent sermon from St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Downers Grove, IL.
"Animal House" podcast

Peace

Isaiah 11:1-10 describes a place of peace.  And it isn't accomplished through obliterating enemies.

It's cooperation.

There is a little bit of non-peace language -  “rod of his mouth” and “breath of his lips” striking and killing, for instance. It's words of judgment and justice that wickedness and injustice ends, however. Peace doesn't come from weapons and violence. 

The vision of the root of Jesse setting things in order shows wolves, lambs, cows, bears, lions, oxen, children, and snakes all getting along together – with a little child leading it all.

Peaceable Kingdom by Linda Elksnin

War and violence don't bring peace.  They only bring more war and violence. Hate breeds hate. Destruction brings more destruction.

Peace -- true peace -- involves wisdom, understanding, and cooperation among all.

Anyone want to give that a try? Again?  Let's keep giving peace a chance.

Animal House

It's the second Sunday of Advent!  Waiting and anticipating . . .
Monday's Bible study post (Not killing) is still present, but Sunday's sermon isn't really at all 'ranty" at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL.  I do 'mention' the movie, though!
"Animal House" text
"Animal House" podcast

Not killing

Here's this week's Bible study post -

"Peaceable Kingdom" by John August Swanson

In the peaceable kingdom described in Isaiah 11:1-10, it isn’t the elimination of the dangerous creatures that brings about peace, it is in the cooperation of all of God’s creatures that all thrive.

Sure, there’s the “rod of his mouth” and the “breath of his lips” striking and killing, but it is words of judgment and justice that wickedness and injustice ends, not with weapons and violence. 

The vision of the root of Jesse setting things in order shows wolves, lambs, cows, bears, lions, oxen, children, and snakes all getting along together – with a little child leading it all.

War and violence only bring about more war and violence. Hate breeds hate. Destruction brings more destruction. 

The life God calls us to involves wisdom, understanding, righteousness, faithfulness, and cooperation among all of God’s precious creation.

Not killing.

The Little Child

I kept with the same theme and similar direction started in this week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc.org. (Hope or Laughter?) The ending is a little different, tho, with no reference to laughter (but hopefully there will be a little during the sermon!)
"The Little Child" text
"The Little Child" podcast

Hope or laughter?

Here's this week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc.org:

Famous child leaders:

• King Tut – known ultimately for having a tomb that was left untouched by grave robbers until discovered in the 1920s
• Pu Yi – the last emperor of China – lived the later years of his life as a gardener.
• You have Kings Joash and Josiah from the Old Testament. Joash (2 Kings 11 and 12) became king at age 7. His servants killed him when he was 30. Josiah (2 Kings 22 and 23) became king when he was 8. He had quite a go as King – being described like this:

(2 Kings 23:25 NRSV) Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; nor did any like him arise after him.

He was killed by the Egyptian Pharaoh Neco when he was 39.

There are stories of child leaders throughout history – most often, if no always associated with people who became leaders because of a family line.

If you want real child leaders you have to look at TV and movies.

• There’s the kid, Kevin, from “Home Alone.” He single-handedly foiled the attempt of burglars in the house.
• How about Tommy Pickles – the leader of the Rugrats?
• Jimmy Neutron – the genius who often saves the world – from space aliens or from his inventions gone awry?

I’m sure we could find plenty of child leaders from movies and television over the years. We may have laughed with them, but we usually think that in the “real world,” children don’t rise up as leaders of everyone.

And this week’s reading for the second week of Advent from Isaiah 11:1-10 turns one of our ideas around, once again.

There’s some familiar images from our reading a few weeks ago from Isaiah 65 about animals that don’t spend lots of time together becoming buddies – and this time another idea comes up: “a little child shall lead them.”

• Hope coming from destruction
• Unlikely allies
• A little child leading them.

Can we look forward and prepare to celebrate with hope or will we continue to laugh at what seems absurd?