For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.                                  (Isaiah 9:6)

The end of 2023 draws nearer. As I look back on the year and the stories that have occupied our newspapers and television screens, I guess this year could be called a year of war. The year opened with headlines that continued to focus on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, As the year closes, that conflict has been eclipsed by Israel’s invasion of Gaza. And these are just the two conflicts that dominate our British TV screens and newspapers with dozens more playing out around the world.

There are no easy answers to this continuing challenge of international conflict. We can only pray that somehow the message of Christmas: that Christ came into the world to bring peace and goodwill between Heaven and Earth and for ALL peoples of the Earth, will somehow break through. It is not unprecedented that the peace of God which passes all our understanding can break through the deepest divisions between people. The brief and unofficial truces between German and British soldiers on Christmas Day in1914 is one example. In the middle of a brutal war both sides put down their guns, sang Christmas carols, exchanged gifts and played football. For that brief moment the Peace of Christ made it’s way into a hurting world.

We must also remember that Christ knows about living in a country occupied by a harsh regime with religious and political ideals different from your own: he was a Jew living in land occupied by the Romans. And Christ knows what life is like as a refugee: he spent his early years in Egypt to escape from King Herod who wanted him killed. His response as an adult was not to go to war to eliminate those who thought and believed differently. His response was to show us how to live among and to love those who are different, and to show us how to value those that our society considers are of lesser or little worth.

This is why the Christmas message of Peace on Earth and Goodwill to all men, of whatever race, creed or colour, is so important. If our approach to life is to go to war with those who are different there will always be someone to fight. But if our approach is to be at peace with those who are different then just maybe, by the grace and blessing of God, we can live in peace.  

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’                 (Luke 2:13-14)

Revd Eddie