Merry Christmas to all of you. After few days, the angels’ canticle will resonate all over Egypt’s parts on the Nativity’s Eve: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” As the birth of Lord Christ bore a message of peace for the entire world, people have had to follow this message throughout their lives as came in the prophecy of Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist: “To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Thus, peace has become the way according to the will of God. In His Sermon on the Mount, Lord Christ has beatified the peacemakers, describing them as the sons of God; “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God”. Peace has become a mission in a Christian man’s life, Paul the Apostle teaches us to: “live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you”, he also taught us to “Pursue peace with all people” and thus, peace becomes a life approach which man pursues throughout his life journey.
Peace is God’s gift which is given to people after they had lost it for ancient epochs when evil and murder had entered the world, as man ended his brother’s life, in the first crime known by history; life has become ever since a fierce battlefield in which the strong deprives the weak of his life, freedom and possessions, fear has been settled at the heart of humanity and it became tough for man to restore his peace. Nativity came to restore what people had lost through a message from heaven: “and on earth peace”. Peace shall be accompanied by rejoice and goodwill: “goodwill toward men”.
Peace begins from within man’s heart, in his relationship with God, which is reflected in his relationships with himself and others, making the circle of peace integrated in his life.
Peace with God
The peace of man with God lies in the deep love which associates him with God, and which is expressed in the commandment: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment”. Through man’s love to God, he begins to review his life, feelings and behavior, presenting repentance for every evil or sin which infiltrated into his heart or thought; he thus will achieve a daily growth in the love of God and people, will have his repentance and goodly work advanced, and peace will dwell in his life. I liked the words: “The moment of inner peace: when you see bright light from God amidst darkness, when you feel that closing your eyes is enough to embrace all your suffering, and when you feel that the mercy of God is all you need to sleep.”
Peace with Oneself
Examining one’s life with circumspection, man discovers that the secret of losing his peace dwells in negative feelings which try to sow envy, hatred and jealousy in his depths, leading him towards murdering, as Cain had done in ancient times. Killing may be physical or moral, but in both cases it is destroying a man’s spirit and positive energies and waste of his dignity; therefore, people shall be aware of all the hatred feelings trying to sneak to the heart because they will lose only their own peace. Such feelings become like a blazing fire in their depths which wastes away their days, forming en endless circle of turmoil! My friend, life does not deserve this suffering, it is much simpler, and it is very short, so do not waste your energies in planting thorns, as you will have nothing ripen save thorns as well, but rather let love grow, making your life full of good and peace. It is said, “If you cannot make peace inside yourself, you’ll never find it elsewhere”.
Peace with Others
Man’s peace with others comes only as a result of his love to God, which calls him to do good with all people, and sows love in his heart towards others. Yes, peace needs work, toil and effort, because those who plant thorns to kill peace are found. We have to remove thorns and continue to sow love everywhere. And… Stories about beautiful Egypt never end!
The General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
