Peace On Earth
2003 Advent Devotional Collection
Monday, December 22
Reading for Today: John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)
Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child.
Holy infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
What is the “heavenly peace” that we sing of in the familiar and favorite carol, Silent Night? We know that global peace is fleeting and illusive. One area of our world may seem to be peace-filled while another is filled with outbreaks of violence and hostility and war. We know that social peace is fleeting and illusive. As long as children go hungry; families struggle without the basics of food and shelter and clothing; the power-less suffer from the abuse and violence of the power-full there will never be true peace in our world. We know that personal peace can be fleeting and illusive. The chaos of hectic lives breaks through our rare peaceful moments, demanding attention and jolting us back into the present with its demands, worry and anxiety. Peace in all these realms is fleeting and illusive.
But what about “heavenly peace?” Have you ever watched a baby sleeping? This may be the closest thing to “heavenly peace” we can experience this side of heaven. Babies are able to sleep through disturbances that would have us up and racing. Babies can sleep through entire shopping trips at the mall, musical concerts and traffic noises with blaring emergency sirens. Babies can sleep peacefully in a room full of talking adults, blaring TVs and loud vacuum cleaners. Babies are somehow confident enough to trust that others will take care of the things that are beyond their control. To watch a baby sleep is to experience a moment of “heavenly peace.” At Christmas we celebrate the gift of Jesus Christ to us, who comes as a baby but brings the promise of “heavenly peace”, a peace unlike anything the world gives – an eternal peace which we experience when we are finally confident enough to trust that God will take care of the things that are beyond our control, even into eternity. This Advent season, spend some time watching a baby sleeping and experience just a taste of “heavenly peace” on earth.
Prayer for Today:
Gracious and loving God, thank you for the gift of your son, Jesus Christ,
who comes to us as a baby, bringing the promise of the true peace that
you bring to our world and our lives, a peace which is not fleeting or
illusive but exists for eternity. In this Advent season, help us to be
open to experiences of your “heavenly peace” around us. Amen.
Gretchen B.
Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
(217) 428-4336