Sharing God’s Peace
By Lisa Wells
Out of the depths of the American Civil War came one of my favorite Christmas hymns. “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” is based on a poem written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1863. As he hears the bells ringing on Christmas morning, Longfellow laments:
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!"
How those words still resonate today! I cannot help but wonder, how are we to be joyful when so many are suffering, when wars rage, and hate seems to be ever present? Where is Peace?
The poem continues:
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men."
The poem references Luke 2:14. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.” Wait, what? What did the angels mean, saying “peace among those with whom he is pleased?” Why not peace everywhere? But, just as the poem says, that doesn’t mean God is dead, or asleep, or indifferently observing us from a distance. Instead, God is very much alive and active in our world. God craves being intimately involved in our lives. When we live in an authentic relationship with God (when we live in a way that pleases him), we receive that promised peace.
Now, if you overthink things even half as much as I do, you’ll wonder, “but how do I know if I’ve done enough? How do I know if God is pleased with me?” Good news! God did that work for us!
Jesus continually uses the word Peace as a greeting to his disciples after the resurrection. In the Old Testament, the word for “peace” is shalom. Shalom refers to a state of wholeness and harmony, spilling over into all our relationships. More fundamentally, shalom means a reconciliation with God. “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him [Christ], and through him to reconcile to himself to all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” (Colossians 1:19-20, emphasis mine). God repairs that broken relationship with us through Jesus Christ. Shalom/Peace is experienced through our complete well-being – emotional, spiritual, social – flowing into all our relationships, made possible by God’s gift of grace.
The angels did not proclaim a world free from war or heartache or greed. They proclaimed a new world filled with the peace of reconciliation with God, gifted to us in the form of a tiny baby.
In Matthew 5:9, Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” What a promise! Jesus, the Prince of Peace, declares that anyone who follows his lead is accepted into a state of wholeness and reconciliation with God. “For those that are led by the Spirit of God are children of God,” (Romans 8:14).
Realistically most of us lack the ability to change the entire world, but we can each be led by the Spirit to share God’s peace in our small corner of it.
Let’s put some of that peace into practice:
Right now, think of someone who you know, but not necessarily very well. Maybe you don’t even know their name. Maybe you’ve been told their name multiple times, but you’ve forgotten it each time and now you’re too embarrassed to ask yet again. Or maybe it’s someone you knew, but then lost touch with years or even decades ago. Think of that person, and hold them in your heart right now, and ask for God’s peace on them.
Most Holy God,
May the barista who was working at Kaladi’s this morning feel your love and peace surround her. May people be kind to her. God, you know her name. You know her heart. Bless her with your peace, and remind her that she is your beloved child. May she experience wholeness and harmony in her relationships. Thank you for bringing reconciliation to her life through your son Jesus. May she be led by your Spirit and reflect your peace.
Now pray that same prayer for yourself.
Most Holy God,
May I feel your love and peace surround me. May people be kind to me. God, you know my name. You know my heart. Bless me with your peace. Remind me that I am your beloved child. May I experience wholeness and harmony in my relationships. Thank you for bringing reconciliation to my life through your son Jesus. Lead me by your Spirit that I may reflect your peace.
Was it harder to pray for someone else, or yourself? Who else is God calling you to pray for during this week in Advent?
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace among those with whom he is pleased.
Shalom.
St. John member Lisa Wells is a Certified Lay Servant and plays in the handbell choir.