The Price of Peace

In the second chapter of Luke, when the angels appear to the shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus, they sing, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests." Luke 2:14 This verse implies that the peace of God is not for everyone, or at least that some may be more open to the peace of God than others. This interpretation is supported by the details of the birth story, and corroborated at other points in scripture. For example, later in Luke’s gospel Jesus tells his disciples, "When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you.” (Luke 10:5-6)

This is the dark side of Christmas. Some in the story don’t get what God is doing, but many get it and ignore it, resist it, or actively oppose it. Vain, paranoid, baby killing Herod comes to mind immediately but, to be fair, he’s not the only one. Even Joseph was a bit iffy for a while, and the people of Nazareth, Jesus’ home town, don’t seem to have a clue. (Matthew 13:53-58) Many of the disciples had a terrible time “getting it”. – After spending three years with Jesus, Judas betrayed him and Peter, who eventually became one of the great saints of the church, pretended that he didn’t even know him. – There’s at least one occasion when his family, perhaps even his mother, struggled with it all. (Mark 3:21) And even Jesus himself, from time to time, had to withdraw to a lonely place where he could think and pray about things.

Sometimes it’s just hard to see what God is up to, but that’s not all. God’s plans and purposes for healing and wholeness, for peace, often threaten our plans and purposes. The good news that God loves the poor can feel like bad news to the rich. And a new order is of little comfort to those of us who are still benefiting from the old disorder. World peace sounds like a great idea, but peace in my family?... peace in my workplace? That’s an awful lot of rubber, and an awful lot of road.

In the first chapter of Luke, when Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth, she sings joyfully about what it means when God shows up and brings peace to the world:

He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

he has scattered those who are proud

in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones

but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things

but has sent the rich away empty. Luke 1:51-53

When the Prince of Peace shows up, in my own life or in the world, he brings with him the kind of peace that’s built on justice, and a love for everyone, not just for me. So the battle lines get clarified pretty quickly. – So ridiculous it can’t possibly be right, and yet so obvious it can’t possibly be wrong; another mystery. – And all we can do is surrender quickly, get with the program, humble up, and begin the process of becoming one of those “...on whom his favour rests”.