Frederick Buechner writes, “Peace has come to mean the time when there aren't any wars or even when there aren't any major wars. Beggars can't be choosers; we'd most of us settle for that.” In that sense, when the heavenly host sing to the shepherds that night so long ago (Luke 2:14): “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” that certainly would seem to be a piece of what they are proclaiming. But while there is peace in their nation at that time, it is not really that kind of peace that they are proclaiming. The peace in Israel and Judah at that time is the “Pax Romana”—the tamping down of conflict that the Roman Empire did after they conquered. Nobody dared get out of line or disrupt anything, because Rome would punish them severely. So while there was no conflict, it wasn’t peaceful to those whose nation was no longer truly their own. There were no wars, or not major wars (the occasional rebellion was crushed immediately), but it was hardly a peaceful existence since they were under the thumb—and under the boot—of this other nation.
Buechner goes on: “But in Hebrew peace, shalom, means fullness, means having everything you need to be wholly and happily yourself.”
Clearly that was not the “peace” they were experiencing. So this peace that the heavenly host sings, this peace that will come as the Messiah comes, this shalom, this fullness, this wholeness—what is that like? What is that like for us?
When we stop to think about it, we do know that peace isn’t simply a lack of conflict. There can be absolutely no conflict at all, and yet we can find ourselves unsettled, nervous, out of sorts—not at peace. We can find ourselves feeling like we’re not in a state of fullness, wholeness, happily ourselves. If the lack of conflict doesn’t bring these things, is it really peace?
Buechner also says “Christ never promises peace in the sense of no more struggle and suffering. Instead, he helps us to struggle and suffer as he did, in love, for one another. Christ does not give us security in the sense of something in this world, some cause, some principle, some value, which is forever. Instead, he tells us that there is nothing in this world that is forever, all flesh is grass. He does not promise us unlonely lives. His own life speaks loud of how, in a world where there is little love, love is always lonely. Instead of all these, the answer that he gives, I think, is himself. If we go to him for anything else, he may send us away empty or he may not. But if we go to him for himself, I believe that we go away always with this deepest of all our hungers filled.”
Peace sometimes is found in the midst of conflict, as we find fulness and purpose and a sense of doing the right thing even in engaging in conflict. Jesus, besides being the Prince of Peace, also said "Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34). And yet, the last time he is with his disciples before he would be captured and executed, he said to them, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you" (John 14:27).
Jesus enters the world vulnerable, needy, unable to take care of himself—as a newborn baby. The first few years are not entirely absent of conflict, as those of you who’ve raised children know. And yet in doing that, there is a peace, and assurance, a knowing that what you are doing matters. From his
birth Jesus teaches us how to be at peace—how to live with peace.
OLD TESTAMENT Micah 5:2-5a
2 *But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
who are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to rule in Israel,
whose origin is from of old,
from ancient days.
3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time
when she who is in labor has brought forth;
then the rest of his kindred shall return
to the people of Israel.
4 And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great
to the ends of the earth;
5 and he shall be the one of peace.
GOSPEL Luke 2:8–14
8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and 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 heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!’
NEW TESTAMENT Philippians 4:4-9
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.