V/ My eyes are turned to you, O Lord.
R/ You are the joy and gladness of my youth.
V/ Grant me the Wisdom that sits by your throne.
R/ That I may dwell as a child in your presence.
Let us pray. Lord, in your loving design, you have drawn me here to encounter you in your Word and, in you, to find myself. Empower me by your Wisdom, that this meditation may be a font of transformation and freedom, bearing fruit for my salvation and that of the whole Church. Amen
CHRIST IS OUR PEACE
By Chidi Ezeakacha, OCD
SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YR A
Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 71:1-17; Romans 15:4-9; Matthew 3:1-12
7th December 2025
Our world yearns for peace and harmony. We find ourselves torn apart on every side by conflict and division. Yet, amidst this discord, we cling firmly to the words of our Lord: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” As we petition the Lord for this gift on the Second Sunday of Advent, let us light the candle of peace and proclaim with the Psalmist: “In his days, justice shall flourish, and great peace forever.”
In the first reading, Isaiah prophesies that a shoot shall sprout from the stock of Jesse. He shall be filled with the Spirit’s gifts—equity and righteousness. As a judge, His justice will restore harmony to the earth, bridging the divide between every part of creation. His adjudications will bring unimpeachable peace among nations and tongues, dismantling class divisions, racial prejudice, and unjust systems. On His holy mountain, all shall be one, for He is our peace.
St Paul, in the second reading, invites us to contemplate unity, which brings eternal glory to God. He urges us to imitate Christ, the Prince of Peace foretold by the prophets. Christ came to bridge the ancient divide between the circumcised and the uncircumcised—between Jew and Gentile. He came to bring into the communion of His Father all those who walk the face of the earth, proving that God’s promise extends to all humanity.
In the Gospel, John the Baptist emerges with a stark message demanding urgent attention. He warns the Pharisees and Sadducees that access to the peace of the Kingdom of Heaven does not depend solely on biological descent from Abraham. While lineage has its value, it is secondary to a repentant heart that accepts the fire of the Holy Spirit. The Baptist warns that the One coming after him will separate the wheat from the chaff; only then will He grant peace to the repentant.
Let us reflect on the paradox of these promises. Isaiah and Paul speak of a peace achieved by uniting divides. Conversely, John the Baptist preaches a peace achieved by separation. Yet, this separation—the winnowing of the wheat from the chaff—serves the ultimate goal of unification. The Lord gathers those who are Abraham’s children not merely by blood, but by faith. To these, He grants everlasting peace.
St John of the Cross, our Mystical Doctor, illuminates this further. He reminds us of a joyful truth: true peace is achievable in this life, but it involves uniting ourselves entirely with the will of God. In His will is our peace. St John teaches us to strive to preserve our heart in peace, letting no event of this world disturb it, reflecting that all temporal things must come to an end.
He views peace as a gift bestowed upon us in Christ—a peace the world cannot give. To preserve this treasure, we must detach ourselves from worldly attachments. These attachments create confusion and division, luring us away from the interior quiet where Christ dwells. By separating ourselves from the chaotic noise of the world, we are unified with the Lord in the centre of our souls. This is the Carmelite wisdom: a peace achieved through a form of separation that enables the profoundest unification.
As we traverse our earthly journey, let us never forget that Christ, our Peace, is always with us. He is in our hearts, coming to us in the Sacraments and the daily events of our lives. Let us strive to be like Him, fulfilling our purpose to give glory to God. Rejoice, for Christ has given us His peace!
Prayer
Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace, You came to bridge the ancient divides and to gather all nations into the communion of the Father. Please grant me the grace to accept the fire of the Holy Spirit, that I may separate myself from the noise and attachments of this world. Winnow the chaff from my soul, that I may find true rest in the centre of my being, where You dwell. Amen.
Ponder Questions:
1. Where do I see “walls” that need bridging, and how can I be an instrument of Christ’s reconciling peace this week?
2. In what ways am I resting on the laurels of my past religious habits and refusing to embrace everyday conversion, or is my heart currently repentant and open to the Spirit’s fire?
3. What specific worldly attachment or distraction is currently preventing me from experiencing “interior quiet”?
Practice for the week:
The Practice of Detachment: Dedicate 15 minutes each evening to “interior quiet.” Turn off all phones and screens. Sit in silence and identify one worry or attachment that dominated your day. Consciously visualise handing that worry over to Christ, “separating” yourself from the anxiety so that you may be “unified” with His peace.
Commit to Heart: “In His will is our peace.”