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| Billie Silvey |
| December 2006 |
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| An eclectic website about Women, Christianity, History, Culture and the Arts--and anything else that comes to mind. |
| Peace on Earth |
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| The night Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, the wonderful news of his birth was announced to some shepherds who were watching their sheep in the nearby fields. All at once, an angel appeared to them, and God’s glory shone around them. They were terrified, but the angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’ve got good news for you and everybody else in the world. A Savior, Christ the Lord, has been born today in Bethlehem.” Then a whole group of angels appeared, singing and praising God: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests (Luke 2:8-14). Peace. The very word suggests calm, tranquility, freedom from conflict, harmonious relationships with those around us and a deep serenity within. About 700 years before the angels sang, the prophet Isaiah had prophesied of a child to be born, “and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end” (Isaiah 9:6). Matthew refers to a later prophecy of Jesus’ peaceful life: “He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out” (Matthew 12:19-20; cf. Isaiah 42:3). Isaiah and Micah spoke of a time when people would “beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore” (Isaiah 2:4, Micah 4:3). In another reference, Isaiah tells of a Peaceable Kingdom in which “the wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them” (Isaiah 11 6). In the Sermon on the Mount early in his ministry, Jesus pronounced a blessing on people who make peace: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9) Every night, after the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, they show photos and give names, ranks, ages, and hometowns of men and women killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. I’ve watched night after night for years now, a seemingly never-ending parade of sadness. They’re so young, with such promise Each has family and friends mourning their loss, and each has a little old woman they’ve never known tracing their faces, reading their ages, thinking about their loved ones. What causes wars? James tells us it’s our desires that battle inside us. The lack of peace on earth comes from the lack of peace within. We want things we can’t get. We kill and covet because we don’t have, and we don’t have because we don’t ask God or ask him with the wrong motives--to spend on our own pleasures (James 4:1-3). In my lifetime, we’ve fought a world war as well as wars in Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq and numerous smaller wars. All put young lives at risk to satisfy our political and economic interests, our craving for things we don’t have, our lack of peace within. Let each of us pray God to “let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.” Let us start in our own hearts and move out to our homes and families, our neighborhoods, our churches, our nation, and our world. God wants it. During the holiday season, we often sing of the angels and shepherds in these words: It came upon the midnight clear, That glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth, To touch their harps of gold; “Peace on the earth, good will to men, From heaven’s all gracious King.” The world in solemn stillness lay, To hear the angels sing. Yet with the woes of sin and strife, The world has suffered long; Beneath the angel-strain have rolled Two thousand years of wrong; And man, at war with man, hears not The love song which they bring: O hush the noise, ye men of strife, And hear the angels sing. In this month's website, I talk about good will among people, peace with God, and peace within ourselves. I got the words of carols quoted throughout the website, and one of the stories I used, from Douglas D. Anderson's website The Hymns and Carols of Christmas. I'd love to hear your thoughts about peace, or any special memories or traditions of the Christmas season you'd like to share. Email me at b.silvey@sbcglobal.net. |