All of us desire peace. And is this not the foremost message of Christmas? In the eve of the first Christmas, the angels sang, ‘Glory to God in the highest and peace to people of good will.’ Peace or shalom in the bible, is very important. It occurs more than five-hundred times in the Bible. In the New Testament, Jesus would almost always greet His disciples ‘Peace be with you.’ But what does this peace which the angels spoke about mean?
In the entire Old Testament, the prophets often spoke about shalom, peace. This pertains to the harmonious relationship between God and man, between man and a fellow human being, and between man and his will. Because of man’s fall at the Garden of Eden, this harmony or shalom was lost. In the New Testament, genuine peace came in the person of Jesus. St. Luke said “ And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God by which the daybreak from on high will visit us to shine on those who sit in darkness and death's shadow, to guide our feet into the path of peace." (Lk. 1:76-79)
How does Jesus become our peace? The gospels show various ways.
First, by embracing those neglected and rejected by society. In the gospel according to St. Luke, the angels appeared to the shepherds, who in the eyes of the Pharisees were unclean because of their inability to observe the Mosaic laws. Jesus invited the tax-collectors, who were hated for their apparent betrayal and collaboration with the Romans. Jesus mingled with Samaritans and prostitutes, with sinners. Jesus is peace, that is, he restores the relationship of us sinners to each other and to God.
Second, by his miracles. Many of the miracles performed by Jesus concern the healing of lepers and the blind. He also brought back to life the only son of a widow. The absence of a healthy body for those who are sick and the uncertainty of the lives of widows and poor people, are examples of the absence of peace. Jesus came to restore spiritual, emotional, and bodily health. That is why holiness is closely linked with wholeness. Through Jesus, we become whole; we become holy.
Third, shalom, peace means to live in accord with the will of God. Pope Leo the Great said “We wish that our friends be like us or have the same interest and desire. How can we say that God can be our friend if we keep on doing things that He hates?” At the last supper, Jesus said to his disciples “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27). Peace does not mean conformity with the ways of this world; Peace demands the denial of sins and efforts to build the Kingdom of God. The seed of peace will sprout and flourish only if we water it with obedience and perseverance.
Thus, if we long for the peace of God, which is the spirit Christmas, we have three tasks: to accept the persons rejected by society and those who have sinned against us; to give healing and security for the sick, widows, and destitute; and to aspire to follow the will of God. In this way, through God’s, the song of the angels will be fulfilled: “Peace on earth to people of good will.”
In the entire Old Testament, the prophets often spoke about shalom, peace. This pertains to the harmonious relationship between God and man, between man and a fellow human being, and between man and his will. Because of man’s fall at the Garden of Eden, this harmony or shalom was lost. In the New Testament, genuine peace came in the person of Jesus. St. Luke said “ And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God by which the daybreak from on high will visit us to shine on those who sit in darkness and death's shadow, to guide our feet into the path of peace." (Lk. 1:76-79)
How does Jesus become our peace? The gospels show various ways.
First, by embracing those neglected and rejected by society. In the gospel according to St. Luke, the angels appeared to the shepherds, who in the eyes of the Pharisees were unclean because of their inability to observe the Mosaic laws. Jesus invited the tax-collectors, who were hated for their apparent betrayal and collaboration with the Romans. Jesus mingled with Samaritans and prostitutes, with sinners. Jesus is peace, that is, he restores the relationship of us sinners to each other and to God.
Second, by his miracles. Many of the miracles performed by Jesus concern the healing of lepers and the blind. He also brought back to life the only son of a widow. The absence of a healthy body for those who are sick and the uncertainty of the lives of widows and poor people, are examples of the absence of peace. Jesus came to restore spiritual, emotional, and bodily health. That is why holiness is closely linked with wholeness. Through Jesus, we become whole; we become holy.
Third, shalom, peace means to live in accord with the will of God. Pope Leo the Great said “We wish that our friends be like us or have the same interest and desire. How can we say that God can be our friend if we keep on doing things that He hates?” At the last supper, Jesus said to his disciples “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27). Peace does not mean conformity with the ways of this world; Peace demands the denial of sins and efforts to build the Kingdom of God. The seed of peace will sprout and flourish only if we water it with obedience and perseverance.
Thus, if we long for the peace of God, which is the spirit Christmas, we have three tasks: to accept the persons rejected by society and those who have sinned against us; to give healing and security for the sick, widows, and destitute; and to aspire to follow the will of God. In this way, through God’s, the song of the angels will be fulfilled: “Peace on earth to people of good will.”
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