Nena Arias | December 16, 2019
“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” (Luke 2:14)This verse in Luke was the message the angels announced to the shepherds at the birth of Jesus. Without a doubt, most people have a desire for peace in their lives and for world peace. What is more, they need it. But, why is peace so elusive for so many?
The lack of peace causes people to be stressed, confused, and in time can break down their immune system that will bring on physical disease.
It has become commonplace to wake up to some news that disturbs our peace almost daily. Sadly, the bad news outweighs the good news so often that we have come to expect it. The crime, violence and chaos are overwhelming. We even think it could not get worse and then it does. Many are suffering, hearts get broken, and the grief from losses is so painful that many feel they can hardly endure.
All this begs the exclamation, Lord, where is your peace? Tell me, where can it be found? Many of our songs of the season proclaim the message of peace on earth but it is obvious that the earth has forgotten what the Savior came to bring us and what it consists of.
Life gets so busy that a moment of peace and tranquility is hard to find and plan for by focusing on what is truly important, which is the peace in our soul that our Savior came to bring us. Without the Savior of Christmas things get out of focus and life feels empty and void of meaning. The emptiness of the soul brings grief, loss and repeated heartbreak. Even though we may be singing “Silent Night, holy Night,” where we sing all is calm, peaceful, and bright but it only becomes an empty holiday ritual not a reality. When peace seems far away, have we missed the point? Are we refusing to face reality and life from the perspective of the Prince of Peace? Everything about life requires that we constantly re-learn something about peace on earth.
Reflect again on the message the angels said “‘…for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’” (Luke 2:10-13).
In the Gospel of Luke chapter 2, peace on earth is promised to those “on whom God’s favor rests,” and in Luke 3, we see God’s extension of that peace to the world in the person of Jesus. He is the only true source of lasting peace. He himself said as he was getting ready to leave earth, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)
God, through Jesus, opened the heavens and made a way for peace. Though the world may be writhing in pain, and the violence seemingly unrelentless, we can experience peace through Jesus.
May we determine every day to draw close and behold God’s gift of peace on earth.
