Advent: Peace

People often ask the hypothetical question: if you could ask for anything at all and be given it, for what would you ask? The hypothetical answer, at least when I was a kid, was always a joking, dreamy-eyed, sugary sounding, “world peace.”

I hear that answer less often these days. Perhaps world peace seems too unrealistic to even be a joke anymore.

Peace seemed pretty unattainable at the time of the birth of Jesus, too. Although the birth of Christ occurred during the so-called Pax Romana, or Roman Peace, that human-engineered peace came at the cost of many lives and was maintained by a harsh and authoritarian government.

It might seem odd that in the middle of humanity’s best attempt at peace, the angel announced in Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

Peace among men? How could this be? The answer was the reason for the angelic proclamation. It echoed Isaiah’s prophesy from hundreds of years before. 

Isaiah 9:6

“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”

We can’t get there on our own, not through politics, or “religion,” or any of our own best efforts. We need the Prince of Peace, (Luke 1:79) “To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”