Advent Snowglobes (Day 24)


From 2009, "We Three Kings." If you listen closely you'll hear Linus (8) singing along. We do not know where these visitors came from- but it was a long journey; they "traverse afar." The Micah text for today speaks of folk from "many nations" visiting God's house to learn God's ways. Why? To learn the ways of peace: "In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised up above the hills. Peoples shall stream to it, and many nations shall come and say: ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more; but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken. For all the peoples walk, each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever" (Micah 4:1-5). The wise men brought their gifts to the Lord, worshiped him, then returned home. Jesus grew up to be called Prince of Peace. One of his most important and well known teachings was, "Blessed are the peacemakers." In a time of war and violence, the three kings and the King of kings call us to live, and breathe, peace. Do not dismiss Micah's vision as utopian, impossible; may your words and life echo it, and bring it to reality.

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