One candle is lit for the reign of God's peace
As we complete a week of reflections and prayers on peace
Today we come to the end of our week of reflections on the scriptures for the second Sunday in Advent, with a focus on God’s peace. I hope you feel prepared to light the candle of peace tomorrow, perhaps praying the words of the second verse of “One Candle is Lit”:
Come quickly, shalom, teach us how to prepare
for a gift that compels us with justice to care.
Our spirits are restless till sin and war cease.
One candle is lit for the reign of God's peace.
(Words: Mary Anne Parrott | Music: James Ramsey Murray | Tune: Mueller) [1]
“O Come, O Come Emmanuel” is a quintessential Advent hymn, often sung in churches each Sunday of Advent. The seventh verse (depending on the hymnal you use) invites the Christ - the desire of nations - to come and bring peace to the whole world:
O come desire of nations, bind
All peoples in one heart and mind;
Bid envy, strife, and quarrels cease;
Fill the whole world with heaven's peace.
Chorus: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to us in peace to dwell! [2]
(O Come, O Come Emmanuel verse 7, alt. Kate Layzer Dec. 2016)
May the deepest peace, Shalom, be with you!
“Carols from King’s 2016” The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
[1] https://www.missionstclare.com/music/advent-music/onecandle/onecandle.html
[2] https://www.musicanet.org/robokopp/hymn/ocomeoco.html