Today is the second Sunday in Advent. Another candle is lit on the Advent wreath. A sermon about repentance and forgiveness is spoken with passages from the Bible referring to the forerunner of Christ, John the Baptist. This was the chosen one of God who would prepare the way for the Lord, Jesus. When the angels announce Jesus’ birth to the frightened shepherds, they listen to the message of peace they bring.

So much was going on in those few days – those short hours – those times of danger, wars and rumors of the same. The sky was filled with a trillion stars, but none shone brighter than the Bethlehem Star which would lead the shepherds to their newborn Savior. Undoubtedly the stories of a Messiah were told around the evening campfire many times. Those tales had most likely been discarded and even forgotten some time ago. So many generations came and went and still the Messiah did not come. It had to be just the right moment in time – according to God’s plan – on His timeline.

In the Old Testament, we read the prophesy about the Messiah in Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” When the angels met the shepherds in the fields the angels tried to assure them, they had no reason to be afraid. In Luke 2:13-14 “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Will there ever be true peace in this world? At that moment in history, when the Son of God chose to be born as a human being, yet remained God, there was peace. Of course, it didn’t last. Jesus was born into a sinful world where wars were commonplace – a place where peace did not exist. So, as we look at this Advent Sunday let’s not lose hope. Jesus promised He would come again to the world. This time would bring eternal peace – a new heaven and earth – no sin, tears or sorrow. Jesus is our peace. We wait again anxiously for His return, but while we wait, we can hold Him in our hearts and our inner being. He will never leave us –NEVER!