The Birth of Christ Invites Everyone to Become a Peace Maker

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God’s glory is our peace; His greatness is our joy, and His beauty is our pleasure. When we receive this Child, we become a redeemed people, a new Creation. In this Child, God is glorious, God means to be known and God is praised for His glory by peace-filled new humanity. Therefore, we too take a cue from the shepherds. We must hasten to go to Bethlehem, to find Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. And we, too, join with the angels in the heavenly praise.

One of the best known and loved bible passages about the birth of Jesus is the narrative of the Annunciation to the shepherds (cf. Luke 2:8 -14). The lowly shepherds are taken by surprise at the appearance of the angel, and they are awestruck by the glory of God which shines around them. The angel proclaims to them the good news of great joy that is for all the people. Why? Because this particular day in the history of mankind, the fullness of time has come, and God has sent forth His Son to be born of a woman (cf. Galatians 4:4). For unto us is born this day, a Saviour who is Messiah and Lord (cf. Luke 2:11).

The birth is in Bethlehem, the city of David, the king of Israel. A city thought to be least among the clans of Judah, brings forth for God, one who is to be ruler in Israel, in fulfillment of the prophecy of Micah (cf. Micah 5:1). He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace; for his dominion is vast and forever peaceful, never to be destroyed (cf. Isaiah 9:6-7 & Daniel 7:14). Thus, the angel brings the news, and a multitude of the heavenly hosts responds to it. They praise God saying,

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14).

An Experience of God’s Peace

The coming of this child is the greatest revelation of the glory of God, even among the highest heights of heaven. The coming of this child brings peace to God’s people, who will one day fill the whole earth with His righteousness and peace (cf. Isaiah 9:7). So, today we glorify God because this child is born; and everywhere He is received, peace is spread. We must experience this peace, which is peace with God, peace with our own soul, and peace with other people. Then we will sing out God’s glory for the sake of His name, and live out God’s peace for the sake of His name.

Being Part of the Heavenly Praise

I choose to express my praise for God in the words of the lesser doxology. By this, I reaffirm the eternal glory of our God in the Blessed Trinity, which is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

“Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.”

As I praise, I realize that I need to be open to God’s graces, so that I can enjoy the reassuring peacefulness of knowing that God is everlasting. I endeavour to let my life be a hymn of praise to our Creator. I acknowledge the exuberance of the perfect power of love within the Holy Trinity which created the entire universe; for God is worthy of praise and glory because He is God.

I repeatedly make this statement of faith:

“Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit! Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit! Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit!”

I think how fabulous God is. He alone is the Holy One. He alone is the Lord. He alone is the Highest, Jesus Christ. And He is with the Holy Spirit in the glory of God the Father. So, I repeatedly worship Him, giving Him thanks and praising Him for His great glory:

“Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit! Glory be to the Father, and to the Son…”

I come to understand that we are the Father’s gift to the Son. I think how awesome our redemption is. I behold the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God. I now know that His judgments are so unsearchable and His ways so inscrutable. And so I confess that no one has known the mind of the Lord, and no one has been His counsellor. And I once again give glory to His name.

“Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit! Glory be to the Father, and to the Son…”

This Glory is Given to All of Us

Now I see how the Holy Spirit brings all the majesty and splendor of God Himself into our souls. I admit that there is no gift that can be given to Him so that He might be repaid for His goodness. I accept that all things are from Him and through Him and unto Him. Therefore all glory is to Him for eternity (cf. Romans 11:33-36). And I repeatedly give Him that very glory, saying,

“Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit! Glory be to the Father, and to the Son…”

I declare that God has the ultimate dignity. I call to mind the beauty, beyond all imagining, of gazing on His supreme goodness now lying in that Manager. Yet this eternal glory of God, the everlasting glory of the Father that is shared equally by the redeeming Son and the Holy Spirit is the saving glory that is also given to us (specifically to me as I behold this Child). Yes, in this Child, I have this glory; you have this glory, and we have this glory:

“Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit! Glory be to the Father, and to the Son…”

In the Beginning, Now and Forever!

In the beginning, before anything was created; Glory is to God.  At this moment in time, despite the many challenges of living the faith and in the midst of so much rejection of God by people throughout the world; Glory be to God.  Always, in every moment, even after the world comes to an end, and even forever; Glory is to God. Once again I say,

“Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit! Glory be to the Father, and to the Son…”

This time I unite all of my nows to the beginning of the world, by adding,

“As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.”

Here, I acknowledge that God created the world in the beginning, and He is still the Creator. God is still the Father. Eternally this is who He is, and who He is for me (us) today. All is in His hands. He eternally begets the Son. Even today, the Son isThis Holy Spirit is given to us precisely so that we can enter into this very relationship of love, giving and thanksgiving. This is one thing you must never ever forget. When you look back to the glory of God, please do not forget that beauty and grandeur even in the midst of the confusion of everyday life. God is glorious today, and ever shall He be.

“Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit! Glory be to the Father, and to the Son…”

Therefore lift up your heart to God every day, so that you already participate in the forever. Unite your mind and voice with all of creation, as you offer worship and honor to our Great God (cf. Psalm 148 & Psalm 96:11 – 12). If you do not know how, the book of Job advises that you ask the beasts to teach you, and the birds of the air to tell you. Or that you speak to the earth to instruct you, and the fish of the sea to inform you. Because all these do know that the hand of God has done this; and in His hand is the soul of every living thing and the life breath of all mortal flesh (cf. Job 12:7 – 10).

If you want to experience the Peace of God, you must have your heart carried up into the realms of divine love by joining the heavenly praise of the angels and saints. When you do so, you draw heaven to earth. At that moment, you link heaven to earth. At that moment, you enjoy this supreme, wonderful love of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit forever and ever, alleluia! And inevitably, you will give glory and praise to God with all your life. For you will become a peacemaker, and be called a child of God (cf. Matthew 5:9).

The Channel of God’s Peace

Receive this Child into your heart, so that you become the manger in Bethlehem. Let peace will come into your own heart and enfold your entire being with Peace. Then peace will be in your mind, your thoughts and your words. And peace will be in your actions and your reactions. Peace will flow through you and into your home. You will be the peacemaker with your spouse, your children, and your relatives. You will live out the good news of the Gospel in your home, with those whom you share life’s most ordinary and sacred moments. Then you may effectively take it into the world.

You will commit to peace and love, and not trivialize everything with politics and competition. You will speak the language of peace so that you capture God’s heart for reconciliation and true peace as given unto us in the Child. As far as it depends on you, you will take peace to the global community. As the shepherds give us the example and go in haste to Bethlehem, leaving their flocks in the field, we too, must make every effort to do what leads to peace in our homes, our minds, our communities and our world (cf. Romans 14:19).

“Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was, in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen!”

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2 thoughts on “The Birth of Christ Invites Everyone to Become a Peace Maker”

  1. Great article, Pamela! My favorite line: “If you want to experience the Peace of God, you must have your heart carried up into the realms of divine love by joining the heavenly praise of the angels and saints. When you do so, you draw heaven to earth.” You are truly a mystic at heart. I am always carried away by the reality that God chose the lowly and the humble to bear the Good News of the brith of Jesus. I am equally amazed that Jesus chose to be born in the lowliest of circumstances, to leave his throne in heaven to become the humblest of men. Your artcle is like a holy antiphon of praise, your spiritual truths leading to our “Glory Be’s” over and over again! Thank you for your writing!

    1. Thank you, Mark! Every time you pray the “Glory Be”, try and visualize the angels and saints joining you. You will surely have that heavenly experience again and again! May you be truly blessed.

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