Devotional by Rev. Jason Ashimoto

John 1:9-13 The Voice
The true Light, who shines upon the heart of everyone, was coming into the cosmos. Jesus as the Light does not call out from a distant place but draws near by coming into the world. He entered our world, a world He made; yet the world did not recognize Him. Even though He came to His own people, they refused to listen and receive Him. But for all who did receive and trust in Him, He gave them the right to be reborn as children of God; He bestowed this birthright not by human power or initiative but by God’s will.

This past summer, our family had the opportunity to travel for my father in-law’s 80th birthday “bucket list” trip to Scandinavia. For a portion of the trip, we stayed in Oslo, Norway, and visited the Nobel Peace Center, the museum of the famous Nobel Peace Prize awarded to a person or organization in recognition of their work toward national or international peace. Aside from the exhibits and information around the history of the peace prize and its recipients, the center featured a fascinating exploration of dialogue and how good dialogue and listening to the opinions of others can resolve conflicts and reduce polarization in the world. Inspired by the peace work of Nobel laureates the Nobel Peace Center put together a little book that identified basic principles on listening and dialogue that can improve discussions and debates in everyday life. The title of the book caught my eye and stirred my imagination – Those Who Listen, Change the World.

Good listening has become an obsolete skillset in our current context. Social media algorithms make it far too easy to live in echo chambers of voices in agreement of our own political views. It’s rare to find spaces that cultivate healthy dialogue and a willingness to hear another’s opinion with humility and respect. As many Nobel laureates have demonstrated, the work of peace often requires this skill. These laureates have strived to find peaceful resolutions to destructive and divisive work in our nations and communities. In many cases, violent opposition to these peacemakers has come from those who aren’t willing to listen.

“The best weapon is to sit down and talk” 

– Nelson Mandela; 1993 Nobel Peace Laureate

In the fourth week of Advent, I am reminded of the prologue in John’s gospel that spotlights Christ’s arrival into our world. Jesus enters the world that was created through Him but is not recognized or received by His own people. Interestingly, the Voice translation describes it by saying “they refused to listen”. I appreciate this understanding of this ancient text, as it suggests that discerning the presence of Christ in the world comes through listening. Likewise, God also takes a listener’s posture through the incarnation – entering our reality to understand and connect with us. Listening is a way God shows love.

As we head toward a holiday season that is soaked in the tension of our political climate – we may feel the anxiety of impending gatherings where we are thrust into frustrating conversations with loved ones who’ve been swept up in harmful ideologies, lies, and conspiracy theories. How do we survive these interactions? More importantly, how can we be a truthful and compassionate presence in these conversations while staying within our cultural (and familial) boundaries? John’s gospel suggests we listen. Not only is listening a way to show love through seeking to understand, but it is also a way to discern Christ in our midst. And if listening truly is a way to change the world for the better, then we can be sure that Jesus is a part of it.