The Prince of Peace

By Fr. Christopher Foeckler, MJ • Phoenix, AZ

“For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and His Name shall be called ‘Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace’.”

These familiar Christmas season titles of Isaiah heard at midnight Mass and in the “joyful strains” of Handel’s Messiah introduce the Babe born on the plains of Bethlehem as the “Mighty God” and “Prince of Peace”. The hosts of angels greet His birth singing “Glory to God in the highest” and promising “Peace on earth, to men of good will”. It is peace that Isaiah says the Prince will offer to those who walk in darkness, “For every boot that tramps in battle and every cloak rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for fire.” And so we hope and pray this Christmas for our world. But what does Christ’s peace look like? And more importantly, how can we enjoy it?

On the night before He was to suffer, Jesus offered His peace to the disciples, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled and let them not be afraid.” (Jn 14:27)

“Not as the world gives do I give you peace”. The world has peace when war and strife are exhausted and there’s a temporary cessation of conflict. Christ enters into His sufferings with peace – wishing none harm and offering forgiveness to any who asked. His peace lies in humility of heart and obedience to the Father. Jesus is the Prince of Peace because He is the Savior! He is the One to take away our sins – our breaches of love toward God and our fellow man. Sin is the root of war, and the peace that the world cannot give is reconciliation with God and consequently between brothers and sisters! With His sacrifice once for all accomplished, the victory is His! And so He goes to the upper room on the evening of that first day of the week, greeting the disciples again with, “Peace be with you.” And breathes on them and offers the means of reconciliation by the forgiveness of sins. 

To enjoy His peace, now at Christmas and always, we must be “men of good will” – towards God first, and then to all our brothers and sisters. 

In every Mass, the Church prays for peace:
“Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil.
Graciously grant peace in our days,
that by the help of Your Mercy,
we may be always free from sin,
and safe from all distress,
as we await the blessed hope and the coming
of our Savior, Jesus Christ.”

Merry Christmas to all our loved ones, friends and supporters!