[Is. 9:2-6; Jn. 1:1-14; Lk. 2:1-14]
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
There's a hugely popular video being shared on social media of a bear cub and a deer fawn tentatively getting to know each other for the first time, sniffing each other, touching noses and even giving little licks as kisses.
It's an image which is more than just an 'aaaah!'-moment; it's a loving testament, a real-life example, of the prophet Isaiah's vision of the Lord's holy mountain, of the bear and the cow grazing together, the leopard and the goat laying together, a child playing over an adder's den. It's a vision where destruction doesn't have the final say. (Is. 11:6-9)
This holy mountain isn't just a specific place in a specific time; it's part of the whole of Creation, it's part of all of us. We too are the Lord's sacred place of peace and justice.
As such we are called to live out this sacred place each in our own way, and this each and every day.
It's not a utopia nor wishful thinking, it's the reality of how God sees and approaches his Creation, how Creation in all its wonders is meant to be.
Saint John in his gospel describes how this marvellous Creation, and we in it, came to be: all thingswere given their being, their existence, through the Word, the Light of the World, which is Jesus Christ. He was Light and he brought life, and this life is our light which reflects through us all as a grace given to everything and everyone around us. (Jn. 1:3-5)
This is our call, our vocation, not to hide this light or jealously guard it for ourselves, but to share it, to reflect the Light of the World which is the very essence, the very core, of all existence.
This is Isaiah's prophecy of peace and life, this is John's vision of the interconnection of all of Creation, this was Lucy's strength to stand firm in the assurance her martyrdom would not be in vain but serve as an example of God's everlasting care and presence.
The initiative God took in the birth of his Son, that first step the Creator took towards Creation -not vice versa!- is why we can live in faith and hope that the Lord's holy mountain is a certainty, not wishful thinking nor a utopia.
It's the Kingdom of God breaking through and encouraging us all.
And the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Dagens bön-Collect Third Sunday in Advent:
O Gud,
du som genom Johannes döparen banade väg för din Son Jesus Kristus,
uplyss våra sinnen och gör våra hjärtan brinnande,
så att vi alltid ser dina väger.
Genom din Son Jesus Kristus, vår Herre.
Amen.
O Lord Jesus Christ,
who at your first coming sent your messenger to prepare your way before you;
grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready your way by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just,
that at your second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in you your sight;
for you are alive and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.