Peace on Earth. A nice greeting card sentiment for the holidays. Probably one of Hallmark’s best-selling phrases.
But what does it mean? And how bad do I want it?
First of all, peace is not going to be found via governments or power brokers. Often their interests are best served when peace is absent.
Peace begins with you. And me.
As a follower of God in the way of Jesus (conspicuously non-Xtian) I have a responsibility to usher peace into this world, to the best of my ability.
Peace means I will not allow you to be hungry.
Peace means I will not allow you to be cold.
Peace means I will comfort you when you are lonely and love you when you feel unloveable.
Peace does not mean I have to convince you to believe as I do.
Peace means you are my brother, and I will not tolerate anyone to harm you by perpetuating poverty of resources or spirit, and I will not stand by while you are attacked with missiles or stones.
Peace means I will repay evil and violence with radical love that will confound and amaze those who attack me.
How much do I want peace?
To the degree that such a thing can be measured, you can guage my commitment to peace by how much I am willing to give up to acheive these things.
To feed the hungry I must live with less, and resist the popular consumerism that pervades the season.
To keep you warm I must invite you into my home, even if you smell bad and worship God by one of His other names (or not at all).
Peace means I will raise my voice and risk my self to tear down the machinery that empoverishes you, even though that same machine provides me riches and security.
Peace means not perpetuating violent cycles that ebb and flow, but never end. It means I must be willing to lose the fight to win the heart of those who wish to harm me.
Injustice feeds un-peace.
To the degree I seek justice for my enemy, I seek peace.
I am an agent of peace. So are you.
Peace.