“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:14
Advent Week 2: Peace Advent Theme : The peace of the Messiah
Candle Color: Purple
Scripture Readings: Isaiah 40:1–5Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. 2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. 3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
Luke 2:13–14 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
What This Week Means:
The second candle of Advent glows with the promise of peace. It is a peace that is at once gentle and mighty, tender and enduring. It beckons us to breathe deeply in the presence of the One who quiets storms with a word and steadies trembling hearts with His nearness. Like Israel of old, we stand in holy anticipation, often feeling caught between what is and what will be and between the weight of our present burdens and the whisper of God’s coming comfort.
Advent teaches us that Christ’s peace does not wait for perfect circumstances. It descends into the very midst of our unrest, wraps itself around our longing, and holds us fast in the assurance that God is with us. Today, this truth speaks with particular urgency. Our world is filled with turmoil: wars, natural disasters, political unrest, social division, injustice, and personal struggles of fear, anxiety, and loneliness. Time and again, humanity seeks solutions apart from God: problems appear to be solved, only for them to resurface in greater form. Without the peace of Christ, hearts remain unsettled, communities remain fractured, and despair lingers, waiting for something eternal to hold onto.
And so, in the midst of this brokenness, my heart rises in prayer, it’s a prayer desperate for the world. Lord, let Your peace be known! Let it settle in hearts that are weary and restless! Yet I also pray with a heavy awareness: the world often longs for peace, but it is unwilling to acknowledge You as its source. People chase fleeting fixes, quick solutions, and temporary calm, never looking to the One who alone can give a lasting, unshakable peace. Lord, open blind eyes. Stir hearts to see that true peace cannot come through human effort alone, but only through surrender to You.
For the Christian, the peace of Christ is more than a comforting sentiment; it is a steady anchor in a world of constant change. It reminds us that God’s presence is not distant or passive, but active and forever moving, redeeming, reconciling, and restoring. This peace calls us to pause in the chaos, to seek His guidance, and to extend His calm into our homes, neighborhoods, and communities. It challenges us to become instruments of His peace, showing the world the difference that only He can make.
This purple candle reminds us of both preparation and promise. Its flame glimmers with the hope of the Prince of Peace, urging us to lay aside distraction, seek reconciliation, and shape our hearts to welcome Him more fully. In its quiet light, we are invited to trust that His peace is not distant, not delayed, and not conditional. It is already unfolding, already present, ready to dwell in us and through us in the midst of a world that longs desperately for calm, justice, and restoration. In Christ, the cycles of fear, unrest, and despair are broken, and true peace, steadfast, unshakable, eternal and is offered freely to all who will receive it.
My Prayer:
Heavenly Father, send your Son, Lord Jesus, come quickly. The world is weary, our hearts are broken and restless, and true peace seems so far away. Only You can still the storms, heal the broken, and bring lasting calm. Hurry, Lord, and let Your perfect peace dwell among us. May we see Your glory and surrender to the One who alone gives peace that lasts forever. In Jesus-Yeshua’s Name I pray Amen.
A Little History:
As early Christians entered the season of Advent, they understood it as a sacred time to prepare their hearts for Christ, first in celebration of His birth, and then in expectation of His return. The second week, centered on peace, echoed the ancient cry, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord.” This preparation was not hurried or anxious; it was slow, reverent, and rich with longing. It called believers to look beyond the world’s noise and to listen for the footsteps of the coming King.
Over the centuries, the Church has kept this week as a gentle reminder that the peace of Christ is both a precious gift to receive and a calling to share. It is a peace that steadies weary hearts, quiets restless minds, and reaches into the hidden places of the soul. This peace carries the promise that every valley will be lifted, every rough place made smooth, and all things will be set right when He comes again in glory.
Jesus ~ Amazing Grace! 