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11/21/2002 Entry: "Peace on earth"

I've just finished writing my piece for our Church newsletter for December - thought I'd run it past you all (or is that y'all?)

"All glory be to God and to the earth be peaceGood will henceforth from heaven to menBegin and never cease"

As we prepare to celebrate again the coming of "the Prince of Peace" we cannot avoid seeing that all around us the world is preparing for war. The song the angels sang for the shepherds may seem to have a hollow ring to it: after 2000 years, where is this promised peace?Despite all the chocolate box sentimentality that has become attached to it, the Christmas story has a violent edge to it. It is set in a violent world, and does not shy away from the that violence. Think of the resentment that there must have been about the imperial census that forced Mary and Joseph on the long journey to Bethlehem. The shame of a pregnant, unmarried young women. The murderous scheming of a vicious puppet tyrant. This is the stuff of nightmare, not fairy tale.And yet the story also speaks of hope and reconciliation. Many of the characters in the story, though they are very different from one another, are provoked to a unity of worship by the infant Jesus - rough shepherds, sophisticated followers of a foreign religion, Anna the prophetess, Simeon the devout Jew - all are found gathered around him offering their gifts and singing their praises.Perhaps here is a clue to how we can have the audacity to continue to sing our carols of peace and joy. Herod and his counterparts are still with us, determined to use their power to enforce their will, justifying the suffering of the innocent as a necessary evil and diminishing its reality by the use of euphemistic jargon. But though Herod has not gone away, what the Christmas story demonstrates is that his power is broken. Not by strength of will or force of arms, but by a scrap of flesh wrapped in swaddling clothes. His cry may only be that of an infant, but its sound can still be heard above the din of a world in strife. Here begins the story of the self-emptying of God, a story which finds its completion at Calvary and the empty tomb.Against the violence and injustice of the world God offers - himself. In the stable of Bethlehem God comes to us and invites us to join with him in pursuing "all that makes for peace and builds up our common life". Amen!

Posted by Pen @ 11/22/2002 02:04 AM CST

Thanks Patricia!

BD - we'll keep a welcome in the hillside if you're ever passing this way.

Posted by Richard @ 11/21/2002 11:52 PM CST

Hadn't thought of it like that - nice one!

Posted by Patricia @ 11/21/2002 08:27 PM CST

Wish I lived in Wales. I'd love to hear you preach. You go bro!

Posted by Bene Diction @ 11/21/2002 07:59 PM CST