Philippians 4:4-7 – “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (NRSV)
As we approach Christmas, we need to take into our hearts, the Peace of God, which DOES surpass all understanding. In this time of the Christian calendar we think a lot about peace. Peace is sung about in our hymns, our choir sings of peace, we feel peace in the pasture with the shepherds, we feel peace in the manger scene as the babe rests in the love of Mary and Joseph.
Paul was writing to his people in Philippi in a not so peaceful time. Much was going on in the Mediterranean world, and Paul’s world, and the Apostle would seem to be looking forward, maybe to an anticipated arrival of The Lord? “The Lord is near.” At the least, Paul is reminding his people that the Lord IS near! And, that word is The Word to us in this devotional thought.
The Lord is near. Peace can be found for us, in a not so peaceful time, in believing that The Lord is near! Walking with us, moving with us in our familiar hymns and stories of the season. We can feel the Presence in the anticipation of each tradition which brings meaning to this season. We need to trust in this Holy Nearness as we move into each moment of these days of Advent. This Intimate Presence can open our understanding of the newness which the Birth of Jesus brings to every time and place in human history. God’s Nearness to us can assure us that something new is just about to happen, always. Our prayer should be that God’s Nearness will open us to opportunities in this new time which will change our lives and the lives of those near to us. May it be so.
