More than 2000 years ago angels sang, "Peace on earth, good will toward men." Is this a mockery? A cruel pipe dream? A false hope? Today is the anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the 25th anniversary of Marc LPine's murder of fourteen women at L'cole Polytechnique. We are surrounded by senseless violence--the murder of Canadian soldiers, the shooting of a police officer in Kamloops this week, beheadings and slaughter of innocents in Syria and Iraq, casualties of drug wars and domestic violence. Longfellow wrote, "And in despair I bowed my head: 'There is no peace on earth,' I said, 'for hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good-will to men.'" Have things changed? Outwardly, no. What do we make of the angels' message today?
Jesus was born into a world filled with violence. The Jews lived under Roman domination. Herod slaughtered the babies of Bethlehem in an attempt to get rid of a rival king. Pilate was known for cruel atrocities and condemned Jesus to death on a cross. How does Jesus bring us peace? The angels announced, "Today, in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." An angel told Joseph, "and you are to give him the name, Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." Jesus came to rescue us from sin, the root cause of selfishness, hatred and violence, and to restore our relationship with God. He paid the penalty of our sin on the cross, so that we could experience forgiveness. "Therefore, since we have been justified (put right with God) by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." This is the first step toward peace.
Then God starts to change us from the inside out. He fills our hearts with love so we can forgive those who hurt us, and live in harmony with others. God also gives peace in the midst of turmoil. He tells us not to worry about our circumstances, but to commit them to God. God then builds a fortress of peace around our hearts and minds in spite of the most trying people and circumstances. As we commit our lives to God, he enables us to live with composure even when life around us is topsy-turvy. The peace of God can be a present reality.
But we also hope for future peace. Isaiah speaks of the coming Christ child, the Prince of Peace, and says, "Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end." Longfellow says, "God is not dead: nor does He sleep. The wrong shall fail, the right prevail with peace on earth, good-will to men." We look forward to God's promise of creation restored under the reign of the Prince of Peace. This Advent/Christmas season, we thank Jesus Christ who came to bring peace with God, who helps us experience peace, and promises peace on earth as a future reality.
