Peace - Luke 3

Peace

Tony E Dillon-Hansen

Sermon based upon Luke 3: 1-6

Opening prayer.

Our scripture opens today with a tongue-twisting list: an emperor, a governor, Roman tetrarchs and a couple high priests; these are the human governance around John. Together they hold all religious, political and economic authority and command of the known world.

Yet the Word of God is not to come to them, but instead to a fellow in the wilderness, John the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, both of priestly ancestry as well. Elizabeth lineage goes back to Aaron and Zechariah’s duties include service in the Jerusalem Temple. Thus, John is a prophet that seems to be following the family business.  

Yet instead of serving near the Temple, John is out in the wilderness becoming strong in the Spirit. That is far from the centers of worldly power and going out to give knowledge of salvation to the people by forgiveness of sins (Luke 1:77).

Why is John in the wilderness?  That is where (and how) people go to learn about God.  

Think about it, the times we have excitement and bliss, we feel God, but it is in those moments of time where we are tested, when we have to find direction, when we have a struggle (whether mental, physical or otherwise), that is when we ought to remember that we are not alone.  When we feel tested, we ought to remember that God is there for us. The things is when you look back on occasions when you were in the midst of struggles, I bet you can find that God was there, even when you did not recognize that.

In the early 2000s, I worked at the Univeristy of Iowa doing tech support until the legislature sent the University a smaller budget.  My job was on the chopping block, and I was not sure what to do next. I looked around and figured this would be a good time to go back and finish my bachelor degree. So I spent the next year doing just that.  I finished my degree, raised my GPA, and ran a non-profit at the same time. Maybe, God was helping me all along.

Even today when we are surrounded by a pandemic unleashing new variants or just getting through another test at school, new tasks at the office, getting ready for a wrestling tournament, a long day of harvest, or loss of a loved one, we might look for God because God is there the whole time. Especially in those moments, God is ready to help calm your struggle, calm the waters and bring you some peace.

That is really the key.  When life looks uncertain, difficult, wavering or hostile even, we would do well to remember that God is right there waiting for us to call, to pray.  In these moments, we can lean into our faith and trust that God will give us peace.

John isn’t just a strange guy in the wilderness reciting Bible verses. John calls out the words of Isaiah to help us repent (that is return) to God through this wonderful thing called forgiveness.  Because we all know that myself is the biggest critic of myself, and I have to remember to forgive others around me, but even moreso, I must remember to also forgive myself. For when the job goes away (whether you could do anything about it or not), it is not the end of the world but maybe a chance to do something different - something I should have done anyway even.

For when we struggle we hold onto it and push away things that we might need or could use, including our God. People will hold onto these feelings of remorse, shame and guilt in very unhealthy ways. Thus to forgive oneself, is to allow ourselves to settle into God’s peace and let God calm our feelings.  Repent is not just a frightful word, but a return - a return to God. Thus, returning to God is more than just praying, but returning to that peace that we have forgotten or ignored.

Thus, the voice cries out from the wilderness in our lives - looking, wondering and praying - praying for our salvation, forgiveness and return to God. John is quoting Isaiah that references the return from Exile in Babylon which implies a journey and every journey begins with what - single step and then another. 

That road, that journey isn’t always paved with assurances and easy times, but with each step, each valley can be filled, each mountain can be made low when we put our trust in God. That is a challenge for us.  We will read more about John’s ideas when you read further into Luke 3 (which is the core of next week’s Gospel reading.)

See this strong contrast from the folks listed in the beginning of this text.  They cannot possibly do what God can, that which God promises for us.  This is the world God promises for us.

This is the power of God poured out for us - why? Even in a world that is tired, broken and dealing with years-long plagues, people looking for hope, looking on this long road for something: For you beloved, God pours this out for you and for me so that “all flesh will see” and have peace.

Thanks Be to God.