Peace He Brings!

Sunday, December 7, 2025

Second Sunday of Advent

Is 11:1-10; Rom 15:4-9; Mt 3:1-12

The second Sunday of Advent invites us to reflect on the peace of Christ.

The readings of the day illuminate different dimensions of peace.

The first reading fills us with Messianic hope and expectations. It presents a vision of Messianic peace in the world. The shoot of Jesse, endowed with the sevenfold gifts of the Spirit – wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, fear of the Lord, and delight in that fear – will use his wisdom to judge the poor with justice and decide things rightly for the afflicted. Here, we are called to understand that the Messiah will use his might for the poor and the afflicted. Besides such social transformation, the text highlights a beautiful picture of the cosmic harmony that the Messianic arrival will ensure. The ideal picture of peace reminds us that the Messianic presence will restore God’s will and vision for humanity. Thus, a Christological reading of the text suggests that Jesus will inaugurate God’s Kingdom through humility, justice, and peace.

The second reading highlights Paul’s appeal for harmony among the Roman believers. He teaches that harmony is a divine gift which must be embraced in the spirit of Christ’s self-giving love for us. It is within this teaching on harmony that Paul blends his ideas on Gentile inclusion, presenting it as the very fulfilment of Divine Purpose, without claiming credit for such initiative. In Paul’s view, the Christian community gives praise to God when they throw aside the ethnic rivalry between Jews and Gentiles and come together as one people in God’s name. To this end, he wants them to welcome one another as Christ himself did. Thus, for Paul, peace is living in union and harmony, in Jesus’ name. 

The Gospel text introduces John the Baptist, the Messianic forerunner. A closer reading of the text will show that John’s message is more judgmental in tone, though it culminates in peace. How can we understand this paradox? John’s baptism of repentance is in essence a peace initiative because it invites Israel to return to covenantal fidelity, embracing repentance and reconciliation. This is why, when he criticises the Pharisees and Sadducees, he tells them that if their repentance is not manifested in action, it will be fruitless. Thus, John’s use of imagery such as ‘axe laid to the root’ and ‘the winnowing fork’ conveys the urgency of transformation as a worthy way to prepare themselves for the Lord’s coming. Hence, John’s message is not one of destruction or judgement, but a call to repentance and reconciliation. After all, peace follows repentance and reconciliation.

The readings of the day leave behind important insights to ponder. 

1. Jesus comes with power only to use it for the poor. He intends to bring peace by addressing the social inequalities. With Christ, there is justice. Where there is justice, peace prevails. 

2. Reconciliation is a difficult task. However, Christians are called to put aside their rivalry in love of Christ. There is no greater testimony than a united Christian community. 

3. John’s invitation to reconciliation implies the importance of actively seeking points of convergence or commonality to unite the fragmented humanity rather than wasting our time and energy in concentrating on the differences that divide us. Those who love peace become the living illustrations of the peace of Christ.

A visitor went to a zoo and was surprised to notice a lion and a sheep lying quietly next to each other in the same cell. This coexistence surprised him more than ever because he had never witnessed such a scene anywhere else in his life. Finding it hard to restrain himself from asking, he went to the zoo director and exclaimed how such coexistence of lion and sheep was possible despite being in the same cell. Maintaining his nonchalant composure, the director just commented – ‘Well, we just add a new lamb every day!’

All that glitters is not gold. Peace is not the absence of noise, but the presence of justice.

Jesus comes announcing peace through Divine justice and love. 

Let us pray that we may advance peace through God-intended justice. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar