by Rev. Canon David B. Tabo-oy
v1It was the fifteenth year of the rule of Emperor Tiberius; Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip was ruler of the territory of Iturea and Trachonitis; Lysanias was ruler of Abilene, v2and Annas and Caiaphas were High Priests. At that time the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. v3So John went throughout the whole territory of the Jordan River, preaching, “Turn away from your sins and be baptized, and God will forgive your sins.” v4As it is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah:” Someone is shouting in the desert: ‘Get the road ready for the Lord; make a straight path for him to travel! v5Every valley must be filled up, every hill and mountain leveled off. The winding roads must be made straight, and the rough paths made smooth. v6The whole human race will see God’s salvation!'” – Luke 3:1-6***
We light the Candle of Peace this second Sunday of Advent. This candle is often referred to as the “Bethlehem Candle,” embodying the timeless message of peace that resonates throughout the Christmas narrative. The candle serves as a poignant reminder of the transformative power of peace in a world often marred by conflict, discord, and unrest. As already mentioned in the previous article its purple color symbolizes anticipation and preparation for the arrival of the Prince of Peace, whose birth heralds a new era of reconciliation and spiritual wholeness. The concept of peace holds deep significance within the Christian faith, encapsulating the divine promise of reconciliation and the restoration of brokenness. It reflects the profound yearning for harmony and unity, both in the human heart and in the broader tapestry of humanity and the whole creation. The lighting of the second candle in the Advent Wreath invites believers to contemplate the enduring message of peace proclaimed by the angels at the birth of Christ, echoing the words, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men” (Luke 2:14).
The gospel lesson appointed this Sunday tells us about John the Baptist preaching about repentance as a way of preparing for the coming of the Lord. The message is about reparation and preparation that will eventually bring peace to all creation.
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In a recent segment of the local version of the television show, The Family Feud, the host asked a participant, “What are the signs that Christmas is near?” Her answer, “Jose Mari Chan peeking in the TV screen.” To some this may be a silly answer but for most they will agree. The answer refers to the singer-composer appearing in broadcast media singing “Christmas in our Hearts” and endorsing commercial products as early as September. Many purists have been saying that Christmas has lost its true meaning through the years and has been heavily commercialized. I agree. Jesus Christ, the Son of God was born among us in fulfillment of the divine covenant that a Messiah will come to save the whole creation. That promise was fulfilled with the birth of a baby boy on that holy night in Bethlehem more than two thousand years ago and that is what we celebrate in this occasion called Christmas.
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If Christmas is to recover its deep religious meaning and not just a tool of commerce or a pagan festival of merriment, the holy season of Advent which started the new year of the Church calendar last Sunday should be taken seriously and not robbed of its meaning. The four weeks leading to the celebration of Christ’s birth are a time of preparation and reparation, of hope and renewal. This was the call of John the Baptizer which happened ‘in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests…,’ (Luke 3:1-2a). The mention of these Roman rulers and Jewish leaders puts the event between 27 and 28 AD.
It was a time that Israel has fallen. Politically, the Jews were ruled by foreigners, and religiously, Annas and Caiaphas had been illegally put into their positions by the Roman authorities, and constantly used their power to line their own pockets and increase their own authority. Annas was even sometimes called a viper who hissed or whispered in the ears of judges and politicians in order to influence their decisions. There was no peace in the land.
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In ancient times, when a king was going to visit a city, he would send before him someone to herald his coming, someone to announce that he would be arriving soon. The herald would go around the city, and go before the leaders of the city, telling them all, “The king is coming. He will be here any day. So clean up your lives. Make sure you are all in obedience to the king’s commands so that you will not be punished when he arrives.” The herald also tells the people to make the city presentable by getting rid of all eyesores lying around the streets. Fix the roads; make them smooth and straight. Make sure the city is fit for a king to ride through. It was also an insult to the king if they had not prepared properly for his arrival. If he came, and they were not prepared, he might mete out some judgment and punishment upon the city and its rulers.
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And John prepares the way of the Lord by doing what a herald does: he proclaims a message. In other words, he preaches. That’s what preaching is, after all. It is a proclamation of God’s message. John the Baptizer’s message is that the people need to repair their lives and prepare for Christ’s coming. He does this by calling the people to repent and be baptized. The repentance for which John the Baptist calls goes beyond a simple confession of wrongdoings. It involves a profound change of the whole person and demands turning our backs on old self-centered habits. He gives us some down to earth advice on how to smoothen a passageway for Christ coming into our lives, by pointing out obstacles and barriers at the door of our hearts that need to be removed. Among the valleys to be filled in are the many gaping sins of omission, our neglect of family and neighbors, those wasted opportunities in life for helping others and sharing the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ. The mountains of our pride can only be levelled out by the daily practice of the virtue of humility.
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This season of Advent, amidst the chaos and turmoil of the world, the second candle of peace beckons individuals to embrace the transformative power of Christ’s birth, which brings about a profound sense of inner tranquility and reconciliation with God. It serves as a timeless reminder that true peace emanates from the presence of the Prince of Peace, whose coming embodies the fulfillment of ancient prophecies and the dawning of a new era of spiritual restoration. Furthermore, the symbolism of the second candle extends beyond personal peace to encompass the broader vision of global harmony and reconciliation. It serves as a call to action for believers to become ambassadors of peace, actively contributing to the healing of divisions and the promotion of understanding and compassion within their communities and beyond. In essence, the second candle of Advent serves as a timeless symbol of the enduring peace that emanates from the birth of Christ, inviting believers to embrace the transformative power of reconciliation and to become beacons of peace in a world yearning for harmony and healing.
This is the message of Advent that we should seriously and actively bear witness to this world darkened by sin. This message, like the message of John the Baptist shall bring reparation and thus prepare us to a meaningful celebration of Christmas and the eventual second coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Let us pray.
Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect, Second Sunday of Advent, BCP).**
