Opening Scripture
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. … He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be our peace.”
—Micah 5:2-5 (NIV)
Introduction
In the silence of a Bethlehem night, peace entered a world fractured by sin and strife. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, brought hope to humanity. As we await His coming again, we pause to remember how His presence transforms our brokenness into wholeness, offering a peace the world cannot give.
Reflection
True peace is not simply the absence of conflict but the presence of Christ in the midst of it. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “Peace is the opposite of security. To demand guarantees is to mistrust, and this mistrust in turn brings forth war.” Bonhoeffer reminds us that peace is a gift of trust—trust in God’s sovereign plan, even when the world feels chaotic.
Jesus’s arrival in a tumultuous world underscores the profound truth of the Incarnation: God entered human history, not in power or privilege, but in humility and vulnerability, to bring salvation to all. Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem—small, forgotten, and humble—reveals a God who comes to restore relationships: with Him, with each other, and with creation. Mother Teresa saw this peace in the faces of the poor, saying, “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” This belonging is the heart of the Gospel.
Desmond Tutu often proclaimed, “If you want peace, you don’t talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies.” The world Jesus was born into was fraught with challenges, yet it was the perfect setting for God’s plan of redemption to unfold. The political oppression, religious division, and spiritual longing of the time magnified the significance of His birth. The Prince of Peace demonstrated radical reconciliation by entering a world in opposition to Him and offering Himself as the bridge of grace.
How do we receive this peace? We embrace Jesus, the Shepherd who leads us to still waters and pastures of rest (Psalm 23). In Him, our restless hearts find their home.
Connection to Practice
Lectio Divina: Read Micah 5:2-5 slowly, meditating on the phrase, “And he will be our peace.” Ask, “What does this mean for me today?”
Question for Reflection
How is God calling you to be an instrument of His peace in a world still longing for wholeness?
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace,
In a world yearning for calm amidst chaos, You came as a light in the darkness. Teach us to trust Your presence in our lives and to carry Your peace to those around us. Shape us into peacemakers who reflect Your love and restore brokenness with grace. Amen.
Deus Caritas Est
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