Advent Meditation: Peace

The second Sunday of Advent reminds us that we are waiting to welcome the Prince of Peace. When we say this we think of the passages from Isaiah, whom we have been reading this season, and also how the Gospels go out of their way to tell us that Christ is the Prince of Peace connecting Isaiah to him. All of this is good and we all need the reminder of what the coming of Christ is all about.

As I began to think about the Prince of Peace and his significance in our world, It also prompted me to ask, what I believe is the next logical question: What is our role as Christ body, the Church, in fulfilling the ways of Peace? Jesus in the 14th chapter of John’s Gospel, tells his disciples “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid” (NRSV).

We as Christ body have been given both as a gift and a responsibility, the peace of Christ himself. In December it is easy to bring a little peace to our world. The opportunities are all around us. We give without thinking and nobody asks why. It’s Christmas after all! But just as after the shepherds left glorifying and praising God, and the Magi left their gifts and returned home by another road, the real work begins in telling the story of what they saw, and living that story out.

When the lights go down, and the trees are gone and the presents have all been exchanged, we are still left with the work of peace in a world that is hurting so much. The birth of Christ was only the beginning, and we too are now at the beginning again. Christ continues to call his church to the ways of peace, ways that alleviate suffering in this world today, ways where we can take better care of Gods creation today, ways where we can correct injustices in the world today.

This is not always easy, and like the Holy Family we may have retreat to a safe place for a while, in order to continue to bring that peace about. But in the long run we are called to bring peace, and to share the peace that Jesus the Prince of Peace gave to us. Let us share that peace, and let us point others to the Prince of Peace.