Recently as I was driving back from a crowded shopping center, I noticed a bumper sticker which read, “No Peace Without Jesus.” This brought to mind the biblical verse in the Gospel of Luke, "Peace on earth among men of good will" (Luke 1:14). Was the driver of the car so naive to believe that whoever believes in Jesus will have a peaceful life? Is that all it takes? I am sure you agree with me that there are many Christian families whose members are not living in peace, but still claim to believe in Jesus and be members of Christian communities. This reminds me of the angel’s message on the occasion of the birth of Jesus. What did the angel really mean by coupling the good news of the birth of Jesus with the promise of “peace on earth”? During this busy shopping season, the last thing those of us fighting for a parking spot in a crowded mall would think of is peace among men. In fact, today, I am sure many people in war-devastated areas in the world would like to interview that angel and inquire about the promised peace. 2009 years have passed since the heavenly hosts proclaimed that promise, and nations are still fighting and invading each other.

Carefully reading the biblical message heralded by the angel helps us, I believe, understand why the author of the bumper sticker believes there could be no peace on earth without Jesus. If we do so with this verse we soon realize that the angel’s promise was a conditional one. Peace on earth will be granted by God only to those who do God’s will on earth. Jesus Himself says in the Gospel of John, “Peace I leave with you my peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give to you” (John 14:27). Indeed, there are many ways one can create a temporary feeling of relaxation, comfort and joy. Some think alcoholic beverages, financial wealth, drugs or success in this world are the keys to inner peace. However, I am sure we are all aware of many financially well-to-do families or “successful” individuals who may have anything and everything but not peace.

The angelic message is truly an invitation to work with God on creating our own peace a state of being that overcomes and transcends all the challenges of this world and leads to a state of joy and sense of fulfillment that comes only from God our Maker and Redeemer.  Indeed, the message of Christmas is exactly that: a divine invitation to do God’s will, so we may enjoy God’s presence among us.

Although more than two millennia have passed since the birth of Jesus, many have not yet grasped what the shepherds did the night they heard this beautiful message. I wish a few of our politicians had read Luke 1 carefully and discussed it with their pastors. The world would have been in much better shape today. God’s peace is granted freely for all who are willing to live according to His will on this earth.

Happy Advent and Merry Christmas.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Vahan Hovhanessian