First Sunday of Advent, November 27 - Isaiah 2:4-5

4 He shall judge between the nations and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war any more. 5 O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!

Our World: COVID-19, Massacre in Portapique, N.S., War on Ukraine. Tragedies, we often ask ourselves as well as others why does God allow tragedies to happen. Why Lord Why? Why? The world God’s creation, Adam and Eve brought original sin into God’s perfection.

The passage comes from around 740 BCE. Assyria was threatening to overrun Syria and Palestine. Throughout history each generation has often asked God the same questions. Isaiah, the prophet, clearly spoke out against military coalitions. He called on people to trust God. He called on people to walk in God’s way. God’s way: a world where relationships between people are restored. There will be no hunger, no war. All the weapons will be turned into tools for food production.

Walking in the light means to be prepared. Walking in God’s light requires we put our hope in God alone. When we walk in God’s light we live each day as if it were our last. It means looking for signs of God in the everyday events in our lives. It means taking the opportunities, which God gives us, to help others see His light.

Come, let us walk in God’s light. Let us put our hope in God, our Saviour.

- Rev. Marlene Quinn