As usual, a lot will be said this Christmas season about peace on earth. There will be a lot of discussion on news channels and talk shows and websites about peace and what it means and how to achieve it. And I’m afraid, there will always be those cynics who will use the absence of peace on earth to support their point that God doesn’t exist, and that religion is self-deluding and even dangerous .
I always find it so interesting that the ones who point and laugh get such pleasure out of mocking and deriding those who celebrate and believe in the message of Christmas. But hardly ever see believers mocking them. I usually just see sadness. How sad it is to see hate and anger where love and peace could be. There have always been wars and tragedy and never a real peace on this earth. But for Christians everywhere the birth of one child gives every soul the chance to bring peace to his or her heart. No words can say it better than the verses from this Christmas carol that are hardly ever sung anymore. They were written by a man struggling to deal with another war at another time. A man just as real as us, just as saddened by hatred, and just as convinced that the true and lasting peace to be found cannot be laughed or talked or reasoned away.
I heard the bells on Christmas day, their old familiar carols play and wild and sweet the words repeat of peace on earth, goodwill to men. And in despair I bowed my head. There is no peace on earth, I said. For hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, goodwill to men. Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: God is not dead nor doth he sleep. The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, good will to men. May the peace of God that passes all understanding be with you now at this Christmas season and always.