During the second Sunday of our Advent journey, we find ourselves embracing the theme traditionally associated with this day—the Sunday of Peace.
Advent, the sacred season leading up to Christmas, serves as a time of profound expectation and preparation for the celebration of Christ’s birth. It’s a period that enriches our spiritual lives, urging us to contemplate the profound implications of Christ’s arrival into our world.
This Sunday of Peace resonates deeply with the narrative of Christ’s nativity, particularly as recounted in Luke 2:1-21. While I encourage you to read the entire passage in your own time, I want to draw attention to a specific moment that captures the essence of heavenly peace—the angelic proclamation to the shepherds in the fields.
From verse 13: “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’”
This message of peace, announced over the pastoral fields of Bethlehem, contrasts sharply with the earthly peace of the time, termed as ‘Pax Romana’ or the Peace of Rome. This peace, ushered in by Emperor Caesar Augustus, while marking an era free from war and filled with prosperity, depended heavily on the enforcement by Roman legions. It poses the question: Can true peace ever be maintained through force?
In stark contrast stands the peace that Jesus embodies—a peace heralded by angels, not soldiers. This divine peace is not merely the absence of conflict but a comprehensive well-being that permeates all aspects of life. It’s a peace that fosters whole and healthy relationships with ourselves, with others, and with God.
Isaiah 9 prophesied this arrival, naming the Messiah the Prince of Peace—a peace that surpasses all understanding and requires no enforcement because it is born of divine love and grace.
As we navigate the Advent season, let us seek to embody the peace that Jesus brought into the world. Let it begin within us and extend outward to those we interact with daily. Remember Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
This week, may you deeply experience the peace of Christ, allowing it to rejuvenate and prepare you for the celebration of His birth. As we continue our Advent observance, let us hold fast to the promise of peace and its profound ability to transform our lives and the world around us.
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