Comfort foods for the soul (8): Peace is reachable

Peace.

Such a popular word.
So easy for some, remote for others. 

President Truman got peace out of WW2 with his finger on the button for Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

President Obama had his hand on the Nobel Peace prize hardly two years into presidency.

As for the current president, he can forget about the Nobel!

Enough on politics of peace.

In this season, the focus on peace should be more transcendent than politics.

A poem-like verse will naturally transition into the topic of the season: real peace.

“Glory to God in highest heaven,
  and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
(Luke 2:14, NLT)

There’s few arguments about the first line.
The God, who is in the High Heavens, gets glory.

There are discussions regarding the second line.
Is it peace on earth, like no more wars from here on?
Or is it peace to certain group of people, who has a favoured relationship with God?

The first question is easier; so take it first.

With the benefit of Chinese poetry, Jewish songs are similar with preference for parallel structure.
Therefore it is God-in-high-heavens vs. man-on-earth.
Glory is balanced with peace.
So let’s not waste time on peace on earth, whatever its manifestation.

Then where’s peace that’s supposed to be bestowed upon certain group of men, whom God is pleased, to be found?

This second question is never easy.

Jesus has said that he gives a kind of peace unlike the world gives.
Surely looking for it through our normal lens of harmony, wealth and health will likely disappoint.

What then?

The key perhaps lies in knowing “peace” in our Bible was probably “shalom” in a Jewish mind then.
And shalom has a much broader and wholistic meaning than our modern understanding of peace as the lack of conflict.

At the top and spiritual level, shalom speaks of being in a good relationship with God, 
others, and self.

So returning to the message of Christmas that began this piece, glory belongs to God in high heavens, and shalom belongs to men on earth whom God is with a good relationship with.

That’s the Good News of Christmas, announced by the angels in the Gospel of Luke, and enacted with the coming of Jesus to begin the act of reconciliation.

Whatever relationship mess you feel being stuck in, there is good news.

Merry Christmas.
Shalom.

Correggio: The Holy Night, adoration of the shepherds, circa 1528-1530 (Antonio da Correggio, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

“Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
(Luke 2:10-12, NLT)