The Promise of Peace

The First Sunday in Advent
November 30, 2025
Matthew 24:36-44

“The Promise of Peace”

The busy season is here! Thanksgiving is over, and now with so many things to get done before Christmas, where do you find peace in the midst of it all? That can be a very elusive thing in our lives and in our world. Peace can certainly be promised, but it’s much harder to deliver, let alone put into something that will last. There are countless places in the world where the blessing of peace is sorely needed: Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Haiti, just to name a few. In our individual lives peace can also be hard to find. There are so many things that can work against it: stress and pressure that press down upon us; old grudges and grievances that cannot be let go or forgotten; inequity – the haves vs. the have-nots – that stirs up discontent and dissatisfaction. All of this is true not just for nations, but for individuals as well. The promise of peace is something that we both long for and struggle with. Where do we find it? How do we get it? Today, on this First Sunday in Advent, we focus on the promise of peace that comes through the One who is the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ our Savior. We look at this through the Gospel lesson appointed for this day. May the Lord’s rich and abundant blessing rest upon the preaching, the hearing, and the living of his Word for Jesus’ sake.

A new church year begins today with the season of Advent, which always feels far too short to me. The church year is different from the calendar year, the fiscal year, or the school year. The church year follows the life of Jesus, and it begins with Advent, which means “to come to or toward.” The message of this season is one of repentance, preparation and readiness. For many, the Christmas season has already begun, but for Christians, there is this holy season of waiting and watching before Christmas. Advent is not just about the annual celebration of Christ’s first coming as the Child of Mary born in Bethlehem. Yes, there is an aspect of Advent that does help us to prepare our hearts and minds for Christmas. But the primary purpose of Advent is to help us be ready for “that day and hour [that] no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only” (Matthew 24:36). In truth, we’d rather focus on getting ready for Christmas; the “little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.” That seems so peaceful to us over against the final coming of the Lord Jesus, who tells us: “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:44). At first glance, this Advent preparation for that unexpected coming of Jesus might make us anxious and fearful, rather than peaceful and prepared. But our trust in Christ’s first advent – his coming as the Child of Mary who was born for us, who lived, suffered, died, and rose again for us – this is what gives us peace as we wait and watch for his second Advent.

Our focus during Advent and Christmas will be “The Promise of Light.” Right now, the days are getting shorter with less light all the time. We are looking ahead to the promise of light that will come after the shortest day of the year on December 21. For many people, especially those who suffer with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), the loss of light is a real struggle that impacts daily life. The promise of light brings with it the promise of peace, wholeness and well-being. Week by week, we will examine what the promise of light means through the One who said: “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

There can be a false sense of peace in our lives, and Jesus speaks about this in today’s Gospel lesson. It happens easily; sometimes without our even being aware of it. We can become so caught up and so enmeshed in the things of daily life – eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage – that we fail to see or grasp that all of this will come to a crashing halt on that great day of the Lord. We are tempted to find our peace – our identity, our security, and our meaning in life – in things that will not last; that will be swept away. Now, it needs to be said that there is nothing wrong with any of these things: eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage. None of these things are inherently evil. In fact, they are all gifts from God, but like any gift, we can become so enamored with the gift that we fail to see the Giver behind the gift, and that is God himself. We are prone to look for peace in things, in places, in people that cannot give it. The only place – the only Person – who is able to give that peace which passes all understanding is Jesus. He tells us: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). This isn’t just a promise of peace; something that we have to wait for. No, this is a living reality here and now. It is received through faith in Jesus and all that he has done for us. This peace is sealed with the blood of Jesus, shed on the tree of the cross for us all. This peace is God’s gift to us today through the life-giving Word of God and through the holy Supper in which we are given forgiveness, peace and blessing through the very Body and Blood of Jesus. As Paul the apostle writes: “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). This is the great good news of Advent: God is at peace with us because of Jesus. We don’t have to worry or wonder if we have been good enough, or done enough, or had faith strong enough to do this. It doesn’t depend on us and our efforts. It depends on what God in Christ has done for us, all by grace. This is our peace.

Yes, the busy season is here with so many things to get done. Yes, we have deadlines and commitments; obligations and responsibilities that have to be taken care of. All of these things can easily take our focus away from where it needs to be. Let us fix our hearts where true joy and peace are found: not in the things of this world, but in our Advent Lord Jesus Christ. The One who came is coming again. And though he is coming at an hour we do not know, we wait and watch for that coming sustained with his saving peace. Amen.