The Baptism of the Lord
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
Written by Jasmyn Joubert
“The Lord will bless His people with peace.” Wow, what a statement coming out of the Christmas Season! A season that is so full. Full of the joy of the coming of the Lord, Christmas carols, pretty lights, sweet moments with family, awkward political conversations with family, and way too many cookies. And now, we seek the ordinary, the slow moments - we search for peace.
It’s obvious in my two daughters. They crave their routine, and ordinary time is where they thrive: the rhythm of life, the predictability. But, like many of us, leaving the thrill of hope of the Christmas season is hard. Taking down that tree, packing away the Nativity, and feeling like your house is empty. And, as you look around, sometimes we might think, “I should go to Home Goods and get some more decor”.
If that is you, I urge you to pause.
The Church in Her wisdom is calling you to the ordinary. On this day that brings us out of the Christmas season, the Church knows that we will be struggling with this transition, and feeling that empty space. We can choose to fill the empty space and empty moments of our life with more: more clutter, more busyness, more stress. Or, we can choose a life of peace. A life of slower moments. A life where we intentionally choose what to fill our time with and who we share our time with.
The psalm calls us to “give to the Lord glory and praise”. This is an invitation: prayer is the path to peace. A relationship with Jesus is the path to peace.
In this ordinary time, let’s lean into that. Into the calm, into the emptiness, and let’s fill that time with prayer, with Jesus. We might just find peace along the way.
Jasmyn Joubert is a school counselor by trade and a mom of two daughters by vocation. She has a passion for public speaking, specifically on the intersection of faith and mental health. Most recently, Jasmyn was named President of Alive in You Outreach, a non-profit that focuses on creating servant hearts among the teens in our Church. Follow Jasmyn on Instagram.
Pray with today’s psalm.