“Peace, peace,” when there is no peace. – Jeremiah 6:14
These were the first words which came to me when asked to write about Peace for our Advent Booklet. God has sought peace from us since the words of the early prophets.
Our world is still at war – the most terrifying in many years. Our nation’s political parties are the least cooperative I have witnessed in my lifetime of more than 80 years! The destruction of the Gaza Strip and now more of Israel and Lebanon and no success with peace agreements. The horrors of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine for so many months. We cannot bear to watch the nightly news.
“Peace, peace,” when there is no peace!
Why do we associate Advent and Christmas with Peace? There are only two accounts of Jesus’ birth story in the gospels and only one of those mentions peace. It is through the song of the angels, “Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace among those whom he favors.” Seeking peace and associating it with Jesus’ birth has become a special part of this season.
The loveliest and most inspiring poem I have enjoyed during the Advent season in recent years is Amazing Peace. This was written and read by one of our modern-day poets, Maya Angelou, for the lighting of the National Christmas Tree at the White House in 2005. The following are special quotes from Amazing Peace:
“We hear a whisper…. The word is Peace…. It is what we have hungered for. Not just the absence of war. But true Peace….
We clap hands and welcome…Peace…. We, Baptist and Buddhist, Methodist and Muslim, say come.
Peace….
We, the Jew and the Jainist, the Catholic and the Confucian,
Implore you to stay…So we may learn by your shimmering light how to look beyond complexion and see community…. We look at our world and speak the word aloud.
Peace.
We look at each other, then into ourselves, And we say…
Peace, My Soul”
Wanny Hogewood“Peace, peace,” when there is no peace. – Jeremiah 6:14
These were the first words which came to me when asked to write about Peace for our Advent Booklet. God has sought peace from us since the words of the early prophets.
Our world is still at war – the most terrifying in many years. Our nation’s political parties are the least cooperative I have witnessed in my lifetime of more than 80 years! The destruction of the Gaza Strip and now more of Israel and Lebanon and no success with peace agreements. The horrors of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine for so many months. We cannot bear to watch the nightly news.
“Peace, peace,” when there is no peace!
Why do we associate Advent and Christmas with Peace? There are only two accounts of Jesus’ birth story in the gospels and only one of those mentions peace. It is through the song of the angels, “Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace among those whom he favors.” Seeking peace and associating it with Jesus’ birth has become a special part of this season.
The loveliest and most inspiring poem I have enjoyed during the Advent season in recent years is Amazing Peace. This was written and read by one of our modern-day poets, Maya Angelou, for the lighting of the National Christmas Tree at the White House in 2005. The following are special quotes from Amazing Peace:
“We hear a whisper…. The word is Peace…. It is what we have hungered for. Not just the absence of war. But true Peace….
We clap hands and welcome…Peace…. We, Baptist and Buddhist, Methodist and Muslim, say come.
Peace….
We, the Jew and the Jainist, the Catholic and the Confucian,
Implore you to stay…So we may learn by your shimmering light how to look beyond complexion and see community…. We look at our world and speak the word aloud.
Peace.
We look at each other, then into ourselves, And we say…
Peace, My Soul”
Wanny Hogewood