And on earth peace
Luke 2:8-20
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 Saviour, 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,[b] praising God and saying,
14 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
The shepherds, lowly as they are, unimportant as they are, were given a message to proclaim to the world. That this baby in the manger was the Messiah, was the one who would change the world, who would bring peace. Sunday by Sunday in Advent we have read the passage from Micah 5 about the Messiah being born in Bethlehem, and the passage goes on to say – “He will be the one of peace.” That same promise is in the song the angels sing – that would have been part of what the shepherds told people about. This one in the manger is the bringer of peace. But how does that happen? How is that possible?
And that is the questions that still haunts humanity. Especially this year as there are no Christmas worship gatherings in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem because of the on-going conflict in Israel. Bethlehem is a Palestinian town, and in the present tensions it has been deemed unwise to have Christmas services where Jesus was born. Is it possible for the angels’ song of “on earth peace” to come true?
At the side of the manger, in the chaotic joy of God with us, in the hope that rises in our hearts when we hear the Messiah has come, in that place we know violence and war are not the last word, in that place of hope we know the reign of God will be realized. At the side of the manger we realize there is a power in the world greater than the violence and wars that plague our world. At the side of the manger we commit ourselves anew to the hard work of leaning into the reign of God, because that day will come – that is the promise of Christmas. This is not the end; this is the beginning. This is not a stopping place; this is a starting place.
With the shepherds we are sent back to where we came from, back to the world we know, with new hope and energy, with joy and praise, for God has come to us in Jesus Christ and his reign of peace will prevail.
PRAYER:
God of peace and glory, come and shine your glory into our world so that before you we may all bow the knee in awe and wonder that the way of peace has come to earth. Give us the courage to lean into the demanding calling of living for peace in this world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.