Looking for Peace

30/12/2020

A Reflection on the Psalm for January 3rd, 2021:
The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

Psalm 72

R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king’s son. May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.

R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

In his days may righteousness flourish and peace abound, until the moon is no more. May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.

R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute, may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts. May all kings fall down before him, all nations give him service.

R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

For he delivers the needy one who calls, the poor and the one who has no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.

R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Pause. Pray.

And then read more...

The psalmist today expresses a desire for peace. In the chaotic, everchanging, sometimes disappointing, and often confusing environment we find ourselves in, I think many of us are often looking for a source and a sense of peace. I think I could have written that and it would have been true at any point in my adult life (and lots of other times too), but this desire for peace seems particularly pressing at the end of 2020. In a year of so much upheaval, uncertainty, disappointment, loss, and suffering, peace can seem pretty far from us.

We close out the year by celebrating the birth of Jesus at Christmas. God came into the world in the most surprising way, not as a mighty and powerful ruler, but as a poor, helpless baby. And He came into the world to tell us that He loved us, all of us. Throughout His life, peace is one of Jesus’ trademarks. Long before He was born, the prophet Isaiah said that He would be called “Prince of Peace.”

I once heard a Christmas homily where the priest talked about how desperately we need a Prince of Peace – in our world, in our countries, in our communities, in our homes, and in our hearts. This was true twenty years ago when I first heard this Christmas message and it is true today. Maybe it’s even more accurate and applicable today? At least, it seems that way for me. In the midst of so much uncertainty, we are invited to let Jesus be the Prince of Peace for us.

I’m not sure I really know what peace means. I know it does not mean that we will escape conflict, uncertainty, or pain. I think it is more about having an anchoring and a steadiness when we encounter those things. God saw the brokenness and pain of the world and chose to enter into it, as Jesus, and break Himself for it. Jesus came into the world to tell us that we are known, we are loved, and we are held. When peace feels like the farthest thing from our minds and from our experiences, we are invited to hold onto these promises. It doesn’t seem like it will be enough and yet, somehow, it is.

Praise God. Thanks be to God.

Morgan M.

6 Comments

Alana

30/12/2020 12:24:02 pm

Such truth in this reflection. Thank you Morgan.

“ It doesn’t seem like it will be enough and yet, somehow, it is.

Praise God. Thanks be to God.”
Amen! And Peace of Christ to all of you! 😊🙏🏻💕xo

Morgan

3/1/2021 08:30:08 pm

It really is astounding that it is enough. But it is. And I'm grateful.

Lori

31/12/2020 12:46:24 pm

Morgan, your reflection reminds me that I too am poor and helpless, just like the Christ Child, but there is comfort in this since this is exactly the way He wants me. He needs me to be empty so that He may be my fill.

Praise God. Thanks be to God.

3/1/2021 08:31:55 pm

I think we are so familiar with the Christmas story that we often don't recognize how truly shocking it would have been for God to choose to come into the world as a baby - weak, helpless, completely dependent on other people.

Lisa Matheson

3/1/2021 06:54:59 am

Beautiful reflection Morgan. This line really struck me:
“Jesus came into the world to tell us that we are known, we are loved, and we are held.”
This awareness brings me peace in my heart. A peace I have been searching for all my life. Thank you Jesus!!

3/1/2021 08:33:08 pm

In a year like 2020 I know very few things. But I do know that we are known and we are loved and we are held. Hard to believe that it could carry us through, but it does.