Be
at Peace
“And he
will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6
These words from the
prophet Isaiah will be read in every Christian church this month. It
further proclaims,“...to us a child is born...and the government
will be on his shoulders.” Isaiah lived approximately seven hundred
years before Jesus' birth, at a time when Hebrew kings ruled over
Judah. Rome wrested it from Syria around 63 BCE, and occupied it for
more than 400 years. At the time of Jesus' birth, Herod was the Roman
governor, Caesar's representative. So, when people began to suggest
that a child was born who fulfilled the prophesy of Isaiah, who might
be the messiah come to rule over Israel, it caused Herod some
consternation. To suggest that there might be competition for the
position of King was disturbing enough for him to try to have that
baby killed. He ordered the killing of all boy-babies under the age
of two in Bethlehem and surrounding areas. Imagine that—the birth
of the Prince of Peace resulted in the slaughter of hundreds of
little boys.
I wish I could say that
things are different now, two thousand years later. Not so much, I'm
afraid. Not with the report of 85,000 children killed by war in
Yemen. The Prince of Peace is an ideal we worship, but unfortunately,
we do not emulate. Jesus message from angel song to ascension was
Peace. To the extent that we are working for peace, have brought
peace to our inner world, and our outer world, we are instruments of
his message. Do not be afraid, the angel told the shepherds. Do not
be afraid, Jesus said repeatedly to his disciples. My peace I give
to you. Be at peace.
I hope that we can hear,
and become, and spread Peace this Christmas. I am going to give it my
best shot, and I hope you will, too. Think of that baby boy, wrapped
in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. Isn't that a peace-filled
picture?
In the Spirit,
Jane
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