Can There Be Peace on Earth Pt. 2
Pax Christi
Luke 2: 8-14
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
This is the second of a three part study on the peace proclaimed by the multitude of heavenly host.
Christians preach and follow One who is called the Prince of Peace. His way is Pax Christi, the peace of Christ. Jesus spoke to the disciples in that upper room, knowing that the cross was looming before him and that his death was certain, "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you. Not as the world gives, give I unto you.
Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."
The peace Christ offers is different from what the world offers. The peace that Christ offers us is not merely a cabin in the mountains or a little peaceful ocean cottage away from all the troubles and noise of the world. As nice as those may be, that is not the kid of peace that Jesus Christ offers. Jesus' peace was drawn from his union with his Father. Jesus was living in the Father's will, and the will of the Father was in him. As we are drawn into Christ and his spirit into us, we have inward peace that is different from the world's peace.
The peace of Christ is a peace that no one can snatch away. Jesus gives us a peace that is internal. That is the real peace of mind so we have some inner calm. It is an internal peace that comes from the presence of God. Jesus had this kind of peace as he faced his own death.. He had such a vital union with God that it gave him the strength to face whatever came.
But the peace given from Christ is also relational. Genuine peace is expressed in how we relate one with the other. The peace of Christ is not just some kind of sweet peace of mind. The peace of Christ enables me to relate effectively with other people. This peace will cause me to build bridges of understanding and compassion, I will try to restore broken relationship and to bring about reconciliation.
Here is a prayer you might consider as you reflect on this recent study.
O God, we want to hear the angels' song again. We want real peace within our own hearts, with our relationships toward others, and within our world. Help us, O God, to learn how to be peacemakers as we follow the Prince of Peace whose birth we celebrate in this Christmas season. Amen.
