Celebrating the Fourth Week of Advent – The Angel Candle – Peace

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:13-14

Peace and goodwill – the seemingly ever-elusive state that the world seeks, but never quite achieves. Lots of options are offered every day but only one source of peace will endure forever. Peace is not found in activities, methods or materials, but in a person. Peace marks the fourth week of Advent.

Merriam-Webster defines peace in very good technical terms as “a state of tranquility or quiet. Freedom from civil disturbance. A pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity offered the possibility of a negotiated peace.”

Yet why is peace so elusive?

The Institute for Economics and Peace released their annual Global Peace Index for 2021 report showing that the level of global peacefulness deteriorated again this year. It is the 9^th deterioration in peacefulness in the last 13 years. Based on 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators measured across three domains of societal safety and security, ongoing domestic and international conflict, and degree of militarization. Iceland remains the most peaceful country, with Afghanistan coming last and The United States ranking 122 out of 163 nations.

For American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, peace seemed such a distant memory as he sat in the medical tent holding the wounded body of his oldest son, Charles following a battle during the American Civil War. The pain of his son stirred the pain within himself as he still grieved the death of his beloved wife. It was in this moment of despair that Longfellow heard the church bells tolling in the background for Christmas day. How can there be peace? Longfellow began to capture his thoughts in the poem “Christmas Bells.”

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 men….

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 men!”

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 men.”

Peace will always be elusive if we look for it in world power, politics, and earthly wealth. Jesus gives the only valid answer to the question, yet why is peace so elusive? “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

External surroundings no longer define inner peace because of the birth of Jesus. Over the decades since Longfellow captured the words to his poem, hundreds of wars have raged, civil unrest has erupted within nations, economic disasters, and personal tragedies. Yet the truth of that night in Bethlehem still echoes power and hope for us today. Jesus – The Prince of Peace!

God allowed the ringing bells to awaken Longfellow out of his hopelessness. His poem has inspired many songwriters since that Christmas morning to adapt the poem to music, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day. Yes, the struggles you face are real, the challenges seem overwhelming. Yet may you hear again the bells on Christmas morning that Jesus came to offer life and peace for you this day!

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27 NLT

God is great,