The Candle is Peace....

“A candle is burning, a candle of PEACE,

A candle to signal that conflict must cease

For Jesus is coming to show us the way

A message of peace humbly laid in the hay”

~words by Sandra Dean

What conflict does our society see as needing to cease?

Many see a conflict within their family, where peace can be brought about by expelling/silencing someone who is the cause of the conflict, who is unwilling to go along with the family’s expectations or who is unable to abide by them through mental illness or addiction. Peace to them means quiet because no one dares to challenge the status quo.

“All I want under my tree

Peace and love and harmony

Wrap it with a ribbon please
I'll share it with my family."

~Chorus from ‘With my Family’ by Rita MacNeil, 1993

Peace for the country happens when the powers that be are in charge, making decisions that are followed unquestioningly by the proletariat - no riots, no strikes, no protests there.

World peace occurs when that the rest of the world agrees with the values held by our country and if they don’t, we have the bigger bombs, the larger military force, needed to force them to come to our point of view. And when they do, then we have achieved peace…albeit a peace through violence.

“Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding” ~Albert Einstein

What do we as Christians see that peace as being?

We are told in Psalm 34:14 “Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” The angels in the Christmas story announced that the baby born in the manger came to being peace and goodwill to all. Dean also seems to feel that the message of Christmas, the message Jesus died to bring to us, is that conflict must cease.

The bible is actually very clear on this point. The sixth commandment says “Thou shall not murder” with no exceptions mentioned. Murder can be as swift as the aftermath of a missile strike or and atomic bomb. It can be the carrying out of the death penalty as part of the justices system. It can be in a house fire caused by shoddy wiring because of a lack of sufficient income to keep it in good repair. It can be caused by famine or disease in the world where there really is enough to go around, just not the will to do it.

The only true and lasting peace comes through justice not just for ourselves, our families, our neighbours and friends but justice for everyone, whoever they might be and wherever they might live. Canadians were once known as peacekeepers. Can we reclaim this once-proud role of peacekeeping; to work for peace through justice?

‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.’ Matthew 5:9

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