"Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14

It was 1996 - the surprise hit of the toy-shopping season was a little red muppet that laughed. Tickle Me Elmo was the must-have item, and I can remember hearing about the frantic attempts to track down this toy. People would wait in long lines hoping to grab one - or more - perhaps trying to make a profit. While the toy itself was nearly $30, people were re-selling it online for up to $1,500!

There’s something about this season that can transform even the most serene moments into a frenzy of activities and expectations. It’s easy to find ourselves caught up in a whirlwind. While well-intentioned, this hustle highlights how easy it is for us to pursue things that aren’t lasting.

In our passage today, the writer of Hebrews highlights something significant for cultivating peace in our community. “Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness” - two critical ingredients for reflecting the heart of God. In fact, without it, the author says, “no one will see the Lord.”

The pursuit of peace isn’t something that just happens. Other translations word this passage, “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and be holy.” while this emphasizes being intentional, we need to be mindful not to attempt to manufacture this on our own.

Learning to live in the Spirit - to walk in the Spirit - is an important part of the Christian life. As we look at the rest of chapter 12, we see what this looks like as we “lay aside every hindrance and sin that so easily ensnares us” and “run with endurance.” Our perspective shifts as we “endure suffering”. We cultivate peace by making “sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up.”

This time of year, we might “lay aside every hindrance” by consciously stepping back from pursuing perfection in our celebrations and prioritizing meaningful connections. “Running with endurance” could involve navigating holiday pressures with patience and grace. Maintaining a spirit of joy and peace, even when the lines are long, and the traffic is stressful. It means responding with understanding and kindness in stressful situations. And for enduring suffering, for many, this is a time of emotional challenges. “Enduring” could mean acknowledging your feelings of loss or loneliness or even reaching out to share comfort with those around you.

This season - and every season - provides us with opportunities to pursue holiness. This isn’t just about living a moral life but reflecting the heart of God. While to be holy means to be set apart, it doesn’t mean to be separate. While we live differently from our world, the Holy Spirit empowers us to live differently IN our world.

As we wrap up the season of Advent, may we remember what is shown to us in Emmanuel - God with us. In His coming, Jesus demonstrates what it means to be set apart yet fully present in the world. This season, and in the year to come, may we be followers of Jesus who pursue peace with everyone - a shalom that isn’t just the absence of conflict, but the presence of wholeness in God’s presence - reflecting God’s heart in each of our actions, reactions, and interactions to all we encounter.