Yuletide - Let There Be Peace on Earth

“I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And mild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

 

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, 

And on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Luke 2:13-14

 

Peace on earth.

 

It’s such a nice concept, and it is fairly ubiquitous at this time of year.  We sing hymns and carols about it.  We’ll hear sermons on it.  Send Christmas cards with its message.  But we have to question ourselves – do we really practice it?

 

Do we really believe in peace on earth?

 

For followers of the Christ child, the answer should be an emphatic yes.  If Christ is the Prince of Peace, and we are to be Christ-like (literally what Christian means), then we should be the first to practice peace.  Agents of Peace, if you will.  And not just in this Christmas season, when we wish everyone “peace on earth, goodwill toward men” as the angels did so long ago, but in each and every season. 

 

How then do we practice peace?

 

First, and perhaps most importantly, we recognize that it starts with us.  It starts internally.

 

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.  On the contrary ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him;  if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this you will heap burning coals on his head.’  Do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good.”

Romans 12:18-21

 

The verse in Romans is so telling about our responsibility to peace, because it reminds us that in large part, it does depend on us.  “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.”  Peace is not someone else’s responsibility.  It is each and every one of our responsibility to be a person of peace.  To seek peace.  Not to simply avoid conflict, not to force peace through strength of will or of might, but to truly seek peace, to seek harmony, to seek wholeness.  

 

It's why there can’t be an “us versus them” mentality among believers.  There can’t be an enemy other than Satan – the real adversary.  We can’t be against Democrats, or Republicans, or the LGBTQ community, or the NRA, or etc, or etc.  Insert whatever group you want in here.  There can’t even be enmity between believers and non-believers.  Why?  Because any and every person is just someone we’re called to show love toward.

It's important to understand the distinction in what I’m saying above and what I’m not saying.  I’m not saying we have to agree with everyone on this planet.  I’m not saying we have to approve of every message that we hear.  

I am, though, saying, the moment that we stop seeing any person as unworthy of God’s love, we’ve failed.  And we’ve stopped being part of the peace on earth that we seek.  We can’t demonize an individual or a group of people because of our disagreement or opposition.  If we follow Paul’s words above, and Jesus’ example, it’s those people we’re called to love even harder.  Going the extra mile.

 

“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!”

 

Secondly, it’s important that we recognize that the pursuit of peace is worthwhile even if we will never be able to attain it on our own.  The struggle for peace here on earth is a worthwhile pursuit in and of itself.

 

I fully recognize that we will not see true and complete peace on earth until the Prince of Peace returns.  Human beings naturally come into conflict.  Just look at my children trying to play a video game together in a cooperative mode.  We will not see an end to all conflict,  a pervasive inner calm, a level of acceptance and harmony; we will not see no more tears, no more pain, no more night, until sin is removed from this world.

 

That does not remove our responsibility to try and make this world a better place while we are hear.  It doesn’t remove the commands to love others, including our “enemies.”  We as Christians should be known as people of peace.  The first to love.  The first to run in and care for others.  The first to bring peace.

 

Indeed, let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with us.

 

So, this season, I ask you to look internally and ask if peace is starting with you.  I pray that you are at peace, that you know peace, and that you will seek peace.  I pray, that even if for just a moment, we will have peace on earth.

 

That would be a Merry Christmas indeed.  

 

And a great gift for the Prince of Peace.

 

“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.”

Pray for Ukraine

 

Comparisons to Hitler are too overused.  Look at the political discourse in America over the past several years and see the number of people who have been called Hitler.  The usage has dulled a bit of the impact here for us.

The image above was shared on Twitter by the official account for the country of Ukraine.  They know of what they speak.  The country had been invaded by Hitler's army in World War II.  And they then remained under Soviet control following.

We are now in day five of Putin's invasion of Ukraine.  The Russian army is now attacking Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, with a population of 1.4 million.   Part of their three flank invasion, entering from the north, east, and south, and targeting Kyiv and Kherson additionally.  Though the first few days have not gone as Russia expected, they are ramping up their attacks and have been accused of targeting residential areas.

Ukraine, for its part, is fighting for its life and has proven perhaps surprisingly effective so far.  This is David facing Goliath, and it's remarkable that David has lasted as long as they have.  "The war has united people as never before."

This should put things in perspective in our country.  That our petty squabbles have been just that - petty.  That the claims of "tyranny" in mask mandates and vaccine mandates pale in comparison to actual tyranny.  Pale in comparison to actual authoritarianism.  This should be something that could unite all of America - united in support of Ukraine in repelling the Russian invaders.  

Sadly, of course, it has not.  We've had GOP leadership is blaming Biden for the invasion.  Trump, for his part, and who has expressed admiration for Putin, described the Russian leader's actions leading up to invasion as "genius," "smart" and "pretty savvy."  They try to distract with old information regarding Ukraine being one of the most corrupt governments in the world, as if that would justify the invasion, even if it were still true.  Lauren Boebert says we must now liberate America and Canada, like Ukraine needs to be liberated.  She shared in an interview with Fox, "I pray for Ukraine and I wish them the best, but we also have neighbors to the north who need freedom and need to be liberated, and we need that here at home as well."  

It's almost as if they don't know what those words mean any more.  It's all performance.  It's all a show for a base that they can't lose.

My tolerance for it has finally all evaporated.  

We've seen true examples of leadership.  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has shown us that you can start as an entertainer and still be the leader your country needs.  He is armored and in the trenches with his people, refusing transport instead reiterating a request for aide.  He has spoken in Russian to appeal to the Russian people and to combat Russia's propaganda machine.  As the situation has demanded it, he has risen to the occassion.

Continue to pray for him.  Continue to pray for Ukraine and for the Ukrainian people.  Pray for the millions that have evacuated and are displaced.  Pray for the Russian people who do not want this war.   Pray that the swift sanctions work.  Pray for the rest of us as we figure out how best to provide aide. 

Pray for sanity to prevail.  For an end to the conflict.  

Pray for peace.

нехай Бог захистить Україну

Third Sunday of Advent - Joy to the World

On the third Sunday of advent, we celebrate the joy of the coming Savior.  This is Gaudete Sunday - Gaudete in Domino semper; Rejoice in the Lord Always.  The exceeding great joy of knowing that you are unconditionally loved by the Father and that nothing - not sickness, failure, emotional distress, oppression, war, or even death - can take that love away.

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.  Let your forbearance be known to all, for the Lord is near at hand; have no anxiety about anything, but in all things, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God.  Lord, you have blessed your land; you have turned away the captivity of Jacob."

Phillipians 4:4-6; Psalm 85:1

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

Luke 2:8-14

When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Matthew 2:10-11

May this be a Sunday of exceeding great joy for you and yours and may the joy of this season carry you forward in your days to come.