Peace, Prince of

In a book index we might find an entry entitle "Peace, Prince of". Certainly peace is that much-sought-after commodity, eagerly desired yet elusive. We hear every year at this time tales of a bringer of peace, of a One who came into the world to stop wars and madness.

We hear this and yet we do not believe -- or if we do believe, it is accompanied by a sad, sinking feeling that we might articulate as something like, "It was a nice concept but the execution was a little lacking."

Around the world many are working for peace. In our country there is an organized and growing anti-war movement. These people hope and pray, that in our time, peace may yet come, that the promise of long ago will yet be fulfilled.

And who is to say they are wrong? Who will stand up and declare these ordinary-extraordinary people misguided, soft-headed, deluded?

The heavenly angels, so says Luke, praised God and sang: "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace to men who enjoy his favour." (Luke 2: 14). Does this then mean that if we are not at peace we do not enjoy God's favor? So would seem to be the case.

There are many aspects to the matter of peace and, this not being a sermon, I must resist the temptation to pursue the topic, especially since my knowledge in this area is somewhat limited.

For now, I hold up this question: If the leaders of the world have not yet found peace what are we to surmise about their relationship with the Supreme Being or with Reality? In spite of grandiose claims to the contrary what can we say about our leader who so righteously claims divine guidance?

I will be back with more later.


Lord, give us faith and strength the road to build,
To see the promise of the day fulfilled,
When war shall be no more and strife shall cease
Upon the highway of the Prince of Peace.

-- Laura S. Copenhaver