Peace

Although certain words have been familiar to us since we were children, it is normal for us to grow up and even change certain meanings. If you mention the word ‘peace’ to children, they will probably tell you that it means harmony with their friends and siblings or even the opposite of fighting and war. As we get older, the word peace also begins to mean moments of ‘quiet’, such as when after a day of work you sit on the sofa and have a cup of tea ‘in peace’. It begins to mean moments when there are no heavy or extra thoughts, but where the mind begins to rest.

Without realizing it, the meaning of the word peace begins to draw closer to the meaning of this word as we find it in the Bible. On the night of Jesus’ birth, we see angels proclaiming “peace” on earth to men of good will. At the other end of Jesus’ life we ​​see himself greeting his disciples with the word ‘Shalom’, which means peace. In his last speech, found in the Gospel of St. John, Jesus clearly shows us that he wants to leaves us ‘his peace’. This shows us that this peace is a very special gift, a special one indeed, as it is not something we can buy with money, and yet it accessible to us. To receive a gift we only need to be open to it, to open our hands and hearts to receive what is being given to us.

Often, as parents, at this time of Christmas, we find ourselves thinking of the gifts of everyone – our children, our relatives, some co-workers, teachers and many others. As a result, it is much easier for many of us to give gifts than to receive them. This fourth Sunday of Advent, which is the last step before celebrating Christmas, invites us to open ourselves to those gifts that the Lord wishes to give to each and every one of us. It would be really unfortunate if we are being given such beautiful gifts but do not notice them or leave our hands closed instead of opening them to welcome what is being given to us for free.

This week we will present the children with the figures of Mary and Joseph. If we who are living in 2020 can say that this has been an ugly and forgettable year, Mary and Joseph are certainly no strangers to the difficulties of life. In the year Jesus was born, Mary had to face a miraculous pregnancy, something that has never and never happened in human history; a pregnancy that for those who did not want to believe what was happening could mean a death sentence. She had to face a trip to her cousin Elizabeth, another long trip to Bethlehem, delivering in a stable, and another long journey with a baby to Egypt. For his part, Joseph had to face the reality of a bride carrying a baby that was not his; angels who proclaim to him truths that no one else could understand because the world had never seen them before; a new and great responsibility to be the putative father of Jesus and a close participation in a mystery far greater than his.

The beauty of the Holy family is that it was not a ‘perfect’ family but a holy family, and this should give us a lot of courage, because while we cannot be perfect, we can truly be holy if we are able to live the hardships of our lives in the light of faith. Mary and Joseph welcomed to have the prince of peace but not to keep him for them but to give him to the whole world. May these days we enter into an attitude of reception for these great gifts that are being given to us in this holy time of Advent and Christmas.