This Sunday we light our second Advent Candle, a symbol of peace and preparation and a reminder of Mary and Joseph’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. In our troubled world, where so many people’s lives are torn apart by war it can be difficult to think about peace. What is peace? What does it look like? What can we do to bring peace to a troubled world? Yet, as Jesus would go on to teach us, even small steps are important in making change.

There is little we can do other than pray and hope for the countries struggling with the effects of war, but there is plenty we can do to bring peace to our lives. There is so much noise in our world – the pain of war, the horror of climate catastrophe all go hand in hand with the noises closer to home. The homeless people in our towns and cities, the lonely, the overworked and, indeed, the underworked. For some, even the thought of Christmas can open us up to unwanted noise. There is so much to complete and do in our lives and, from the endless Christmas pop songs in the shop, to the list of parties and presents to prepare, we can feel like rest is impossible.

Yet, Mary and Joseph found that peace, even with all the noise and difficulties that they faced, and so too can we. Let us take a moment this weekend to contemplate what peace looks like for ourselves, for those close to us, and for those further afield. What can we do to bring the quiet that is needed, that we may hear God’s word and feel His love? Let us all be peacemakers in our noisy world, and let us remember, that every small gesture, if done in God’s name, brings peace to ourselves and others.

Matthew 5:9 (ESV) Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.