Message: Ripples of Peace / Isaiah 11:1-10

Today is the second Sunday of Advent, and we are invited to reflect on the meaning of peace. Peace is not easy to define in a single sentence. But each of us may carry an image of peace in our heart. For some, peace looks like a calm lake after a wild storm. For others, it feels like a Christmas table where the whole family gathers. Peace might sound like the gentle breathing of a sleeping child, or like the beautiful harmony created when different instruments blend their voices into one. 

In Scripture, one of the most important words for peace is “shalom”. Shalom means much more than simply “no fighting.” It is the peace that comes when broken relationships are healed, when people embrace life with gratitude, and when justice is upheld. The prophets emphasize that without righteousness, equity, and faithfulness, peace cannot stand. They point us toward the coming Prince of Peace, who will renew the world to the harmony God intended from the very beginning. So shalom is both God’s gift and God’s promise.

Today’s first reading from Isaiah paints a picture of the day when this shalom will be fulfilled. Isaiah says that the One will come from the stump of Jesse. He will rule not with fear or violence but with the spirit of God. Jesse was the father of King David and a shepherd in Bethlehem. When Israel’s first king became violent and unjust, God sent Samuel to Jesse’s house, where young David was anointed.

But David also committed many terrible wrongdoings as king. The Bible does not hide his failures. One of the most painful tragedies began within his own family. David’s eldest son, Amnon, developed a dark desire for his half-sister, Tamar. He pretended to be sick and asked David to let Tamar care for him. When she came, he raped her, despite her desperate resistance. Afterward, he called his servants and threw her out, locking the door behind her.

The Bible describes Tamar’s pain in this way: “Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore the long robe that she was wearing; she put her hand on her head, and went away, crying aloud as she went.” (2 Samuel 13:19)

When David heard what had happened, he was very angry, but he did nothing. He did not punish Amnon because he favoured him as his firstborn. The Law in Scripture clearly forbids sexual violence and abuse within families. Leviticus 18:9 even specifically prohibits such violence against a half-sister. But David did not deal with Amnon’s sin in a just way because, in the ancient world, the first son was seen as extremely important. In a strong patriarchal society, sons were valued more than daughters, and the firstborn son was viewed as the heir and future leader of the family. 

Scripture repeats again and again that God shows no partiality. But David did show partiality, even though he was the king called to judge with righteousness and equity. This only made matters worse. Two years later, Tamar’s brother Absalom murdered Amnon in revenge. Later, Absalom led a rebellion against his father and took over Jerusalem. When David fled, he also acted wrongly. He left ten concubines behind to care for the palace without considering their safety, and Absalom sexually abused them. The rebellion ended when Absalom was killed in battle. Scripture does not return to Tamar’s story, but we can imagine how deeply her life was marked by grief and pain. David’s biased attitude led to the deaths and suffering of his children and many others. It brought destruction.

This kind of bias and unfairness is not just an ancient problem. In the 2023 National Justice Survey, half of Canadians were not sure or did not believe the criminal justice system is fair for everyone. Racial inequity is even more serious. According to CTV News, since 2017 an Indigenous person in Canada is more than ten times more likely than a white person to be shot and killed by a police officer. The Yellowhead Institute reports that a Black person is twenty times more likely than a white person to be killed by a police officer.

Some of you may have heard of the “Starlight Tours” in Saskatoon. It is not a romantic story. This terrible practice dates back at least to 1976. Police officers arrested Indigenous people for alleged drunkenness or disorderly behaviour, sometimes without cause, and left them far outside the city on freezing winter nights. Without any proper legal process, the police treated Indigenous people unfairly. This was associated with a number of tragic deaths.

Peace cannot take root where people are not treated justly. Isaiah emphasizes that the Promised One will judge the poor and the vulnerable with righteousness and equity. He imagines a world where every person is honoured as bearing the image of God. From there, the ripples of peace spread wider and wider into our families, our communities, our nations, and even into the whole ecosystem. Isaiah’s vision stretches so far that wolves and lambs dwell together, and all creatures live in harmony.

From the deep root of faith that every human being carries God’s image, a new branch grows. It becomes a place of shelter and rest for the weary. In Jesus Christ, we see this branch. He is the one who treated every person with divine dignity, who drew near to those who had been pushed aside, who ate with them, spoke with them, and walked alongside them. Through Christ we catch a glimpse of the shalom world we long for. And Christ calls us to become branches of peace ourselves, allowing our lives to send out ripples of peace.

The starting point is within ourselves. The first ripple begins with how we understand who we are. Many people are harsh toward themselves. They compare their lives to others and become their own toughest critics. Instead of noticing the treasures they already carry, they constantly pressure themselves to imitate what others do. They become filled with envy and begin to reject themselves for not having enough. They forget how to truly embrace who they are.

Others treat themselves carelessly. Even when they know what would bring true joy and peace, they choose quick pleasure instead. They drink too much, become addicted to gambling, eat unhealthily, or fall into drugs. This, too, shows that they have lost sight of themselves as the precious image of God.

To treat ourselves as God’s image, we need moments of reflection. Some people find this through meditation or yoga. In the Christian tradition, we find it through prayer. In prayer, we stand before God as we are. We become honest with ourselves. We recognize where we have gone wrong. We sense the love of the One who created us in God’s image. We discover what our hearts really need. We learn to see the needs of others and lift them before God. Prayer nurtures inner peace, and this becomes the first ripple.

When we treat ourselves with dignity, we learn to treat others with dignity as well. We begin to love our families not only with words but with authentic respect and care. Peace in a family often breaks when we place too many expectations on one another and complain when those expectations are not met. Yet we must remember that our parents, partners, and children are not trophies for our pride. They are created in God’s image and come to us as God’s gifts.

At the same time, loving someone does not mean allowing them to do whatever they desire. When the people we love go astray, it is our responsibility to guide them with wisdom and patience, helping them find the path that leads to true peace.

Environmentalists often say, “Think globally, act locally.” As Christians, we can say: Think universally about God’s shalom, and let it begin in our heart. The ripples of peace begin when we treat ourselves with more respect, more kindness, and more gentleness. Give ourselves more space to laugh, to love, and to do meaningful work. And let us continue to pray for the peace of the whole world that God loves so much.

In this Advent season, as we let ripples of peace spread, may we be ready to welcome the One who comes as the Prince of Peace.

Thanks be to God. Amen

Rev. Min Hwang