Advent Week 2 - Peace
Entering Anamnesis
Last week, we began our Advent journey with the word anamnesis, a type of remembrance that draws us into God’s living story. We stepped into the prophets’ longing and learned to wait with hope. This week, we move deeper into the story.
In Israel’s worship, remembrance was never about information; it was about participation. At Passover, the people did not say, “Long ago our ancestors were freed.” They said, “The Lord brought us out of Egypt.” The saving act of God was remembered as their own experience. Advent is a season shaped by that same rhythm. To practice anamnesis is to stand with God’s people at the Jordan River, listening to John’s cry as if it is ringing out over our lives today.
His message is clear and urgent: “Prepare the way of the Lord.” The valleys and hills he describes are not only out there in the landscape, they are within us. Our pride must be leveled. Wounds and despair must be lifted. Crooked patterns must be straightened. In anamnesis, the prophet’s call is not a story we admire from a distance but a summons we hear in the present. We are called to prepare space for the Prince of Peace to arrive in our hearts, in our communities, in our city.
Scripture Readings (NLT)
Isaiah 40 1-5
“Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God.
“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem.
Tell her that her sad days are gone and her sins are pardoned.
Yes, the Lord has punished her twice over for all her sins.”
Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, “Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord!
Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God!
Fill in the valleys, and level the mountains and hills. Straighten the curves, and smooth out the rough places.
Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together.
The Lord has spoken!”!
Malachi 3:1
“Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
Luke 3:2-6
At this time a message from God came to John son of Zechariah, who was living in the wilderness. Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. Isaiah had spoken of John when he said,
“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!
Clear the road for him!
The valleys will be filled, and the mountains and hills made level.
The curves will be straightened, and the rough places made smooth.
And then all people will see the salvation sent from God.’”
Philippians 4:4–7
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Reflect
The peace of Advent is not fragile or sentimental. It is the deep shalom of God’s kingdom breaking into our fractured world. John the Baptist announces its arrival with urgency. John shouts in the wilderness, commanding us to prepare a highway for the Lord.
In anamnesis, his voice is present with us today, sounding in our ears now. We are the ones called to repent, to clear away the clutter, to make our lives into straight paths where Christ can walk. The valleys we know of shame, despair, and neglect are to be raised. The mountains we build like pride, control, and arrogance are to be leveled. When this work of preparation takes root, the peace of God begins to settle in our hearts and ripple through our communities.
Consider
What valleys in your life need to be lifted up by God’s grace?
What mountains of pride or control need to be brought low?
How might preparing space for God’s peace also bless those around you?
Prayer Prompts
Comfort, comfort: Read Isaiah 40:1–2 slowly. Receive God’s tenderness toward you.
Turn and trust: Name one pattern you sense God calling you to change. Ask the Spirit to realign you.
Practice peace: Sit in silence. As you breathe in, pray, “Prince of Peace.” As you exhale, pray, “Guard my heart and mind.”
Make room: Ask God to show you one concrete step to clear space for Him this week.
Communal Intercession:
Lord, make our network a community of peacemakers. Straighten paths in our relationships. Heal conflicts, soften hard hearts, and open doors for reconciliation. Let the peace of Christ be visible in our neighborhoods, so that others glimpse Your kingdom drawing near.