Editorial December 10, 1984 Issue

Christmas, message of peace

CAROLYN B. SWAN

Centuries before the birth of Christ Jesus, Isaiah called the Messiah, who he said would be born of a virgin,^{See Isa. 7:14 .} "The Prince of Peace."^{Isa. 9:6.} Micah prophesied that this Messiah would come out of Bethlehem, and said, "This man shall be the peace."^{Mic. 5:5.} The angels who announced to the shepherds that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem, sang, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."^{Luke 2:14.}

Because Jesus' advent fulfilled prophecy in every other way, one might suppose his ministry would have inaugurated worldwide peace. But such has not been the case.

Jesus' ministry did bring peace on earth, but the peace it brought was not quite like the global serenity some may have envisioned. The Messiah's peace was, and still is, a peace of the heart, a peace that endures regardless of outward circumstances. Christian peace is the invulnerable calm that marks those who pray and practice the Christian precepts Jesus taught. The Christian discipleship of Christian Science practice teaches us that all is well because God, good, is All-in-all.

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