Peace that Transcends All Understanding: An Advent Reflection

As I drove to work one day last week, I listened to a report on the 10th anniversary of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Parents whose daughter died that day in December 2012 recounted the story of their loss. The radio host, usually upbeat and professional, was moved to tears on air and struggled to announce the next story coherently.  Certainly, hers is a fitting response to the almost unfathomable and unrelenting violence in our world. As we look out this fourth week of Advent, we see un-peace: war in Ukraine, conflicts in the Middle East, gun violence in the U.S.

My own mind that day was not in the most peaceful state as I made mental lists of the myriad of things I needed to get done: meetings to prepare for, emails to answer, reports to be completed — not to mention finishing preparations to welcome our children home for Christmas.

Into this world — our planet fractured by human violence, spoiled by environmental damage, and our own lives anxious and distracted by worries both significant and trivial — into this world, the gospel speaks peace. This peace is not oblivious or insensitive to the situations in the world and in our own lives. On the contrary, Jesus tells his disciples explicitly that “in this world, you will have trouble.” (John 16:33)

It is in Jesus himself that we find peace. In fact, he told the disciples many of the troubles they would have, so they would know that in him they would have peace. The angels announced this peace when Jesus was born: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to all on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14) Peace comes from Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us — not from mindfulness experts or world leaders.

The apostle Paul knew this peace — despite the realities of his world. His personal safety and the spread of the gospel were often threatened by outside forces of violence and oppression — not to mention his own problems and petty squabbles inside the new communities of Christians.

Last week, during the third week of Advent, we heard the apostle Paul’s instructions to the Philippians to “rejoice!” because the Lord is near. Paul understood the connection between rejoicing and peace. In the very next sentence, he tells the Philippians, and us: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7)

May this peace, the peace found in Jesus, the peace that transcends all understanding, be ours this Advent and Christmas.