The Way of Peace

November 28, 2021
St. John’s United Church of Christ, Union, Illinois

Jeremiah 33:14-16; Luke 1:57-80[1]

The Greeks had already conquered Palestine, and now the Romans had taken over.  The land of the Jews was occupied by enemies, by people who hated them and tried to turn them away from serving God.  The people of God sat in darkness, in the shadow of death.  Luke tells us that it was in the face of these circumstances that hope was born, a sign of salvation was given to the people.  Elisabeth and Zacharias, in their old age, gave birth to John, who would be known as the Baptizer.  This child would be called the prophet of the Most High and would go before the Lord to prepare his ways.

The sign of the coming of God into the world, the herald announcing the coming of the Christ was this child.  The promise of God, the holy covenant, the oath sworn to our ancestor Abraham was to be fulfilled.  The knowledge of salvation and the forgiveness of sin would break from on high like the dawn, and the first proclamation of the coming of God into the world was made at the ceremonial blessing of a child – the circumcision of John.  This ancient sign of God’s covenant with the Jews would be transformed into a blessing of water and spirit – baptism – symbolizing the grace of God, the new life that we have in Christ.

In the ceremony of baptism, we remember the covenant of God’s grace and we promise to help our children to be faithful members of the church of Jesus Christ, by celebrating Christ’s presence and by furthering Christ’s mission in all the world.  We promise on behalf of our children until they are ready, in the act of confirmation, to affirm their baptism and take on that responsibility for themselves.

In this day and age, it seems strange.  We bring our infants to the church and in front of everyone we promise that they will continue Christ’s mission!  Why do we do that?  Could it be that we see something in them?  Could it be that they symbolize something?  Could it be that children are a powerful symbol of hope?

I know that I have hopes and dreams for my children. I don’t know that they will become prophets of the Most High God, but I do hope they will make the world a little better. There are already signs, like the way the both helped with the packing and moving of my in-laws this past week. “How can I help?” is more than a simple offer of labor. It is our opportunity to allow young people to participate in what we’re doing. In the church, it is our opportunity to welcome them into the mission of the church.

And what is that mission?  Well, the prophecy of Zacharias said that Christ would guide our feet into the way of peace.  In a troubled time, what a powerful message of hope!  God has shown us mercy and will guide us to peace.  We surely need peace to come in our time.  Tensions between nations continue to concern us, and at home we are wrestling with one another over masks, vaccines, and anything else we can come up with.  We need help finding the way of peace.

To guide us in the way of peace – you mean these children?  They are supposed to lead us?  Toward peace?  Well, yes.  And I think they might be good at it.  After all, Jesus himself said that we must become like children in order to enter the realm of God.  They must know something we don’t.  Or maybe it’s something we’ve forgotten.

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”  We ask that question of all children, many times, and we laugh and we marvel at their plans and their dreams.  But what is it that we are really doing?  We are asking them to envision the future.  Having a vision is crucial for the vitality of a church or any organization.  As adults, however, we don’t ask each other about our visions for the future very often.  That’s something for the planning meeting.  But we ask our children about their vision all the time.

That question about growing up could also be phrased, “What is your vision for the future?” or maybe “Where will your feet take you?”  If the feet of our young folk are walking in the way of peace, are we willing to follow?  If we risk the unthinkable, and follow where the little child leads, we might discover a way both familiar and strange, a way of peace, hope, and love.

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[1] The scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.