Hickey Theology

I’m willing to bet that if I asked you to define the word peace, I’d get a variety of answers. In fact, I probably wouldn’t hear the same definition twice. We use the word peace to mean lots of different things, don’t we? If I asked you, “What’s the opposite of war, you’d probably answer ‘peace’”.

Sometimes mothers are heard to say in a loud voice, “Can I just have some peace?!” And by peace they may mean that they want the TV, video game, or stereo turned down or they may be asking their children to stop bickering. When someone says, “Leave me in peace,” he or she may feel that too much of their attention, effort or resources are demanded.

I was raised in the 60’s and 70’s, which was a time when folks liked to sport peace signs around their necks or as bumper stickers on their cars. It wasn’t uncommon to see people flash the peace sign. Hippies and flower children sprung up during those years advocating peace and love as the antidote to social or political problems.

That was a particularly angry time. A time filled with many conflicts. The Vietnam War was being fought and the Civil Rights movement was going strong. The desire for peace hasn’t simply been limited to our times, though. The truth is that throughout history, peace has been a commodity in short supply. We all want peace. But what is it?

The Hebrew word for peace is “shalom”. Shalom is a comprehensive well-being that encompasses the fulfillment of every individual and corporate need, as well as the health and fertility of the natural order. It’s not just the absence of conflict, but the fullness of life.

It is the Shalom sort of peace that Advent calls us to both anticipate for the future and receive as a part of our present reality. Best of all, it’s not peace that depends on every temporal circumstance being perfect. We can experience Shalom today – in the midst of the political polarization of our nation, despite conflicts at work or within our families.

And although peace is a part of what we anticipate during Advent, it can be a part of our lives every day. Whatever the situation, the good news of Advent is that God still speaks peace to God’s people – God speaks peace to you. And remember, God’s peace is not simply the absence of conflict, but the fullness of life – enriching relationships, love and mutuality.

Everyone wrestles with troubling questions about the uncertainty of the future, the crises of the present, and the unknowns of the past. All of these things make it clear to us that we’re not in control.

The irony is that understanding that we’re not in control is really a gift. Only when we understand that can we understand reality.  But just because we’re not in control doesn’t mean that life is uncertain. The good news of Advent is that our direction is very sure. We don’t have to understand all of the whys and wherefores. Our job is to trust God, trust God’s loving intentions, to trust God’s timing.

What strikes me that as the recipients of God’s peace, we are to be instruments of that same peace wherever we go. Advent’s a good time to practice peacemaking too. Traffic’s terrible. It takes more time to get from point A to point B because everyone is hustling and bustling. Do you let that person in or cut them off?

We often encounter others whose fuse is short because they’re out spending money they don’t have and fighting crowds of people doing the same thing, pressured to meet their gift giving obligations. Do you scowl when someone in the mall bumps you or smile? Advent is often a time when peacemaking comes up in families too.

Families are brought together to celebrate, and it’s not uncommon for old wounds to be remembered. Broken family systems and broken relationships that can be put on the back burner the rest of the year must be confronted until the celebration is over.

And that’s for the families who are lucky enough to still be in relationship. Sometimes Advent recalls relationships were so broken that they no longer exist. Reflecting the character of God, we are called to be children of peace. Where?

Everywhere we go in marriages, with children, friends, in the church, with co-workers, when we encounter strangers. Under what circumstances? Only when things are hunky dory? Only when others are doing what we want them to do or saying the things we want them to say?

No. In every circumstance. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Many of us think about peace on earth (and in our lives) during Advent. We hear songs about it, receive Christmas cards with idyllic pictures of peaceful winter scenes or images of families together laughing and sharing good times.

And that’s good. It’s appropriate. This period of waiting before Christmas is meant to be a time for us to reflect on what life in the Kingdom of God is intended to be. Let’s not leave our desire for peace when the season ends, however. Like hope, peace should characterize our lives in Christ in every time and season. Until Next Time……….

                                                                           Grace and Peace