The year was 1862. The Civil War was raging. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was grieving the death of his second wife when news came that his son had been gravely wounded in the war. That was when Longfellow sat down and wrote this poem:
I heard the bells on Christmas Day, their old familiar carols play/ And wild and sweet the words repeat, of Peace on earth good will to all/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 all.
In a matter of 14 days from now, you and I will celebrate Christmas. Like the previous Christmases, we will welcome the Prince of Peace into our world: a world torn apart by conflict in Mindanao, disagreements among our leaders in the country; disagreements in our churches on how to do ministry; riots in Egypt and other cities, conflict between terrorist and soldiers.
Thus, on this third Sunday of Advent, when we proclaim peace once more, I, too, wonder, how will we keep from despair?
In the passage from the scriptures, the prophet Isaiah paints to a conflicted world a picture of nations transforming their swords into gardening tools, and deciding to study war no more. The wolf will lie down with a lamb. The bear and the child will play together. And a little child shall lead them. In this vision of Isaiah, all of creation and all the kingdoms of the universe finally are reconciled one to another on the mountain of the Lord. Isaiah’s dream captures in some way the human hunger of the heart.
In Isaiah’s vision, he pictures to us Shalom. In Hebrew, Shalom is more than the absence of conflict. Shalom is harmony, wholeness, health, and well-being. And this is for the entire universe. It means having everything you need to be whole and happy. And for Jesus, peace is the presence of love even in the midst of struggle.
You may have heard of a man who sought the perfect picture of peace. He announced a contest to produce this masterpiece. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere, and paintings arrived from far and wide. Finally, the great day of revelation arrived. The judges uncovered one peaceful scene after another, while the viewers clapped and cheered.
The tensions grew. Only two pictures remained veiled. As a judge pulled the cover from one, a hush fell over the crowd. A mirror-smooth lake reflected lacy, green birches under the soft blush of the evening sky. Along the grassy shore, a flock of sheep grazed undisturbed. Surely, this was the winner.
Then the second painting was uncovered. And the crowd gasped in surprise. Could this be peace? A tumultuous waterfall cascaded down a rocky precipice; the crowd could almost feel its cold, penetrating spray. Stormy-gray clouds threatened to explode with lightning, wind, and rain. In the midst of the thundering noises and bitter chill, a spindly tree clung to the rocks at the edge of the falls. One of its branches reached out in front of the torrential waters, as if foolishly seeking to experience its full power.
A little bird had built a nest in the elbow of that branch. Content and undisturbed in her stormy surroundings, she rested on her eggs. With her eyes closed and her wings ready to cover her little ones, she manifested peace that transcends all earthly turmoil. (Berit Kjos, A Wardrobe from the King)
The peace that Christ gives is experienced because we know that God is there to hold us in his arms. Jesus does not promise to calm every storm in your life. Jesus does promise to calm you in every storm of life.
This brings us to the second point. Peace is a gift from God to those who have faith. When Jesus sent the 70 disciples to do the work of faith, he instructed them, “Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’”
Thus, Shalom is not a casual greeting, not simply a word of farewell, like “Hello!” or “Goodbye!” It is more profound than that. When one offers Shalom, the person through him or her is giving you God’s love. It is intensely personal and caring. Those who are vehicles of Shalom convey the essence of God’s Holy Spirit to others which is self-giving.
And to those who refuse the gift of Shalom condemn themselves, according to Jesus. To refuse to accept God’s Shalom is to refuse God. By definition, the absence of God is the absence of peace. And that is a real definition of hell!
I was visiting one time a woman who was just given a few days to live. The family members were really worried. Others were crying. She requested to see all the members of her family. One by one, they went to see her. After doing this, I went in to talk with her, and say a prayer together with the immediate family members. And this is what she said to me: “Pastor, I am now ready to meet my God. I have found the peace of Christ in my heart.”
At Bethlehem, God announced that peace would come through the gift of God’s unique Son. Isaiah says, “a little child shall lead them”. The Prince of Peace comes to us as a helpless baby born in a manger. When the angels proclaim his birth, they announce “Peace on earth”. When He began His ministry, He said, “Blessed are the Peacemakers for they will be called the children of God.” The world’s peace is peace through strength. The Lord’s peace is peace through surrender. It is surrendering to the One who lifts our burdens, who strengthens the weary, and who gives power to the powerless.
That is why Longfellow did not end his poem in despair. He wrote another verse:
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 all.
As we come around the table of our Lord, may The Prince of Peace abide with us. Amen.
