Week Two
Week Two
Week Two
Peaceable Resistance
Peaceable Resistance
Peaceable Resistance
The theme of this second week of Advent is peaceable resistance, so we will begin with a conversation between a pastor who is a founding member of CAAPIC Los Angeles and participated in many community organizing movements through the years. She witnessed shifts in her congregation during this political moment and talks with her congregant about how he began to participate in solidarity and organizing work. This story offers a glimpse into the ways Asian American Christian communities have participated in community organizing and solidarity movements as an overflow of their lives and faith. As you listen in, may the Spirit deepen your imagination to bear witness as a peaceable presence during this tumultuous and chaotic time.
The theme of this second week of Advent is peaceable resistance, so we will begin with a conversation between a pastor who is a founding member of CAAPIC Los Angeles and participated in many community organizing movements through the years. She witnessed shifts in her congregation during this political moment and talks with her congregant about how he began to participate in solidarity and organizing work. This story offers a glimpse into the ways Asian American Christian communities have participated in community organizing and solidarity movements as an overflow of their lives and faith. As you listen in, may the Spirit deepen your imagination to bear witness as a peaceable presence during this tumultuous and chaotic time.
Throughout history, Christian faith communities played a role in resistance to authoritarian regimes, participating in God’s shalom in our world. Listen to a conversation between two pastors reflecting on how our Asian American communities’ histories and traumas have shaped our engagement and lack of engagement with our current sociopolitical realities. They also share how Asian American Christians can be a peaceful presence and usher the Prince of Peace into our chaotic and violent world today.
Content warning
As we heard in our stories last week, trauma is embedded into our stories as communities who endured authoritarian regimes. While we honor the importance of listening to the wisdom of our communities, we recognize that holding others’ stories of trauma may bring up our own painful histories. Please note that the beginning of this conversation includes a story about abuse and violence. Please give yourself permission to skip [1:45 to 3:16] if you need to pass on this story.
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It's Struggle for Peace As I See It
by Hisako Hibi
Devotional
Over the last few weeks, the teens at my church and I have been discussing how Christians are called to deal with conflict in our Sunday school class. We reflected on what approach each of us tends to take when we have conflicts with others. To my surprise, most of the teens shared that avoiding conflict was their default and believed it was the best way to keep peace in disagreements. Their response made me realize that our society and Christian cultures in general teach us to understand conflict as negative and that peace is the absence of conflict.
However, the lectionary texts for this week (Isaiah 11:1-10, Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19, Romans 15:4-13, Matthew 3:1-12) reveal that true peace requires us to face conflict and correct the wrongs. John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus, the Prince of Peace, by calling God’s people to repentance from their sins. This means being honest about our disconnection from ourselves, God, and others and changing our ways. Without doing so, we cannot experience God’s promise of true peace. Additionally, prophet Isaiah spoke of the promised Messiah as the One who brings justice to the oppressed and rules with righteousness and faithfulness. These passages clearly communicate that peace-making is not a passive endeavor. Instead, peace-making calls us to confront injustice around us and actively work towards making meaningful changes to build a loving community, where all God’s children can live with dignity and flourish with delight.
We live in a time filled with conflict and violence as a society. Systemic violence of racism, sexism, classism, war, and much more. It feels overwhelming and exhausting to breathe the air of violence day in and day out. Violence dehumanizes and harms us all - both the oppressor and the oppressed. Violence breeds violence. How has violence impacted your life and the life of your community? Rev. Allison and Rev. Mike shared the impact of violence on their personal lives, families, and communities. Their experiences of violence compelled them to pursue peace by participating in God’s work of healing and justice in our world.
As we reflect on peace this Advent season, how do you sense God’s invitation for you to bear witness to God’s presence of peace in your family and community? What can your commitment to nonviolent resistance look like during such a time as this?
May our Prince of Peace restore our weary souls and expand our imagination for a peaceful world.