MANY FACETS OF PEACE

 MANY FACETS OF PEACE - One of the four themes of Advent is peace.  The thread of longing and hoping for peace runs throughout the scriptures, even from the first book of the Bible, in the words of the Hebrew prophets, and through the letters of Paul and the four gospels.  In all, there are about 250 references to peace in the Scriptures.  But there are so many different facets to peace – inner, soul peace; peace with God or peace with one’s place in the universe; peace among family and neighbors; peace in the church and community; and peace among nations.  What it all boils down to is all of us long for peace.  But peace doesn’t just magically come to us.  Peace is something we must actively work for, day by day.  As Eleanor Roosevelt said, “It isn’t enough to talk about peace.  One must believe it.  And it isn’t enough to believe in it.  One must work at it.”