Peace on Earth
In the season of “Peace on earth” we might again grieve at the state of the world and wonder if such peace will ever come.
The recent announcement by Donald Trump on Jerusalem, has been widely seen by world leaders as one that will hinder a peaceful resolution to the long-running Israel-Palestine conflict. This has lasted for many years, continuing to keep people in a state of oppression, and it often breaks out as armed hostility as it did following this announcement. This is one of the longer running places of such hostility in the world.
Another conflict constant in our news, is between North and South Korea. The so-called Korean War was never peacefully resolved. These countries remain officially at war. With other countries taking sides, the very real threat of a disastrous war, hangs over the globe. Other conflicts may not have lasted so long; but they have had shocking consequences. Think of those in parts of the Middle East; between India and Pakistan; Nepal and China; within Africa eg the Congo, Sudan and South Sudan.
The need for our prayers for world peace is an urgent and ongoing one. But whilst sinful people lead our nations, there will not be peace earth. Not that that should deter us praying for peace. True peace on earth will only come when Jesus, the Prince of Peace returns to earth, and ushers in a new heaven and a new earth.
The angel does not actually say “Peace on earth” to the shepherds, but “Peace on earth to those whom he favours” or “those with whom he is pleased”. Those committed to his ways are offered a peace that is personal and abides deep within individuals. It is not about world peace. Jews have a special word for this “peace” – Shalom. It is a greeting they share amongst each other wishing a deep personal sense of well-being.
As those committed to the way of God, lived out by Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate at Christmas, live out that peace, we can make a difference in the world. As the well-known song puts it, “let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me”; “the peace that was meant to be”.
We may not be able to pray a peace into existence between warring nations, but we can make a difference in the world if we live peaceably with all people. People that God brings into our lives; people that are different to us; people from other nations; people who do not like us.
This Christmas, that is the peace I would wish upon you and pray for you. It is the peace of God which Paul reminds us is “beyond all understanding”, which we can experience because the Prince of Peace, God’s own Son, was born as a baby at Christmas time. I wish you all a new experience of this peace, this Christmas, and new opportunities to share it with others.
Wishing you the joy, hope, peace and love of Christmas,
Philip