During Roman occupation of Israel just over 2,000 years ago, a Jewish baby was born in a stable at an inn in a crowded city, and a message was proclaimed that night, “Peace on earth and good will to all men.”
In the years that have transpired since, there have been many wars and other hateful acts done in His name — but the message that there should be peace amongst all people persists, and there are those who continue seeking for that to become reality.
There are some who question whether this belief or message is still relevant in today’s Digital Age, with voices on every side calling for people to follow. Can it be that a simple message proclaimed to a group of shepherds in the Judean hills can still be needed today?
There have been many shameful acts even in just this past year, and past week or two, that show that this goal, this message, is more relevant now than it ever has been in history.
Consider that just in this last week, there was a hostage-taking at a coffee shop in Sydney, Australia, and in Pakistan a massacre at a school where 141 people were killed, the vast majority of them children — the youngest of them was two years old, not to mention marches in the U.S. in many of their major cities, seeking justice for all people.
There is unrest in so many places, such as in Ukraine where Russian forces continue to occupy, even while international sanctions have caused a major devaluation of the ruble, and hardships for many people in that country.
Here in Canada, there isn’t any war as such, but there are many people concerned about the murders and violence against aboriginal girls and women, and bullying violence continues against boys and girls of all ages, races and sizes across the country.
Even here in Weyburn, the police say that incidents of violence are on the increase, even while complaint calls as a whole are declining somewhat.
Surely peace on earth can apply for those seeking an end to all forms of violence? Acts that have no other intention but to inflict pain and suffering on another person are rooted in hate, jealousy and rage, and these are all issues that have to be dealt with one person at a time.
As the ancient song says, “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.”
