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The Prince of Peace

by Isaac Baroi
ONCE again, at Christmas, we hear the message of the angles who sing: "Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth, peace to all in whom he delights" (Luke 2:14). This was and is the announcement that a new era, the reign of the Prince of Peace, has begun.
We hear the message. It responds to our deepest longings but we still wait for its fulfilment. Who can count those who were killed during this year in wars and military confrontation. those who were massacred as defenseless victims of terrorism? More than ever the world seems to be held captive to the unending cycle of fighting and killing, of victory and revenge, of merciless competition for power, and a culture of violence in which only the winner counts.
But now what Christmas means today when in times of difficulty, our thoughts become confused. After his birth often angels again and again repeated these words to the world. "Peace be with you!” Militarism prevails in most part of our planet earth. In the popular mind, militarism and peace are considered contradictory opposites. But the facts belie this. There are places where there is no peace, there is also an absence of war and of military presence. There is restiveness in the masses, particularly in the workers, peasants, among the women, and the cultural minorities. The root of their problems is found in the lack of just wages and "fair labour conditions: in the lack of land to till whence they can eke out a living: in the discrimination against their sex, and in the utter disregard for their ancestral lands and cultural heritage. In short, they feel a deep sense of injustice committed against them.
In Bangladesh, it raises questions that command our attention to a world that is quite literally torn apart by conflict and strife at every level —.between,nations, between re-religions, between idfedlbSipv, between chifiches. betwemram-ilies. between individuals, even between person's own dual selves. Then, what is the Christian understanding of the term, reconciliation? What relationship does it bear to justice? What must come first. Justice or peace? Where is reconciliation needed?
And as an answer Io the question — "He called a child, and had him stand in front of them." We believe that is what happening to the world at this time. Jesus Christ is putting a child in our midst as the lesson of what we have to learn. ,
Heart of a child is the key to new spirit. Yes. "Behold I make all things new."
"Hosanna" Is a cry. An afflicted voice. A cry which means "Save Now." On that day the multitudes cried out Hosanna to Jesus. The leader of the march was a very poor man. He led It on a colt. It went towards Jerusalem. The enthusiasm of the people knew no bounds. Some cast their garments upon the colt (St Luke 19:35) to welcome the king who came in the name of the Lord. The others cut down branches from the palm trees and strewed' them in the way. The multitudes who had assembled for the feast at Jerusalem went forth to meet him. (.John 12:13).
"When he came into Jerusalem all the city was moved." (St Matt 21:11), Jesus" entry into Jerusalem was a tempestuous demonstration. But it was the beginning of the end of his life...
Now if we look to the birth of Jesus — a snowy night, shepherds watching the ilock in the open, after this day s work forgoing their sleep, they are tending the sheep. Suddenly they hear a voice. They are taken aback. "For you is born a Saviour, the Prince of Peace For us?" They cannot believe it. How can they? A saviour for the workers. A liberator for the poor? A protector for the unclean? A prince for the unwanted? Yes. "for you."' Their joy knows no bounds. They go and they find.
Meanwhile in the palace. Herod the king turns mad with
anger. He resolves to kill (he babe. Hastily arrive chief priests and the scribes with theological and moral excuses for the cruel deed. The workers and the poor, the women and the unclean welcome Jesus' birth. But the rulers and the rich of the Jews savagely obstruct his coming. During the course of history they make him an idol of worship.
Jesus is one of the poor, a refugee, one who is without a little space even to be horn, one who spends his first days in a manager, and the son of ordinary carpenter. The first visitors to him are shepherds, the shepherds are the only ones chosen to be informed about the birth of Christ. We must note here that: Jesus was a name often used among Jews. Christ means the same as "Messiah". God's annointed one. But putting the two names together is this: The person Jesus was also the Messiah who had been expected so long by the Jews. Most Jews had expected God to send a Messiah to free them from their enemies by force. But Jesus' ministry is a model for non-violent resistance to any and all oppressive socio-political system. In acting to expose the realities of power and privilege through acts of compassion and confrontation, the community of faith truly carries on the mission assigned to it on the mountain.
Christmas is a time of peace. But often it raises questions that command our attention in a world that is quite literally torn apart by conflict and strife. To respond to the urgent needs sharing between different parts of the world is essential. Do we have the impression that our hands are empty, that we have no solution? Consenting to a simplicity of means will impel us to put everything to use and to discover our won inventiveness. And when we put our gift to use. starting from the situations we encounter, little by little they will come to serve others widely. Here one meets Jesus in manger, the model to whom we look.
May the Peace of Christ prevail on Earth.
May Life be'so expensive, that no person or nation deprive another of life.
May Bread be so cheap, that no child may go to bed hungry.
May the grass be ever green. The skies be always blue. May our children have 'sweets in their mouths.
And a glass of milk everyday.
May the Peace of Christ pre-wail on Earth .
Amen.