MONDAY MEDITATION: Where Do You Start? (December 25)

“Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” — Luke 2:14

It’s pretty clear that if we want peace in the world, we need to enter into the lives of others as God did.

There were no savior-from-on-high theatrics. No confrontation between sword-wielding angels and the Roman legions. Indeed, the only angels present when Jesus entered the world held songbooks and not weapons.

Imagine how Jesus entered the lives of others. He lived with them, talked with them, laughed with them, cried with them. He listened and conversed, often around food. People around him, though some disagreed with him, couldn’t complain that he didn’t know them or cared for them.

Peace starts with learning to love others, especially those who may at first have no room at the inn for us. If God traveled to earth to be with us, shouldn’t we travel to others so we can be with them? Relate to them as fellow travelers along this journey called life, with needs, hopes, challenges, fears just like you and me?

Christmas invites us to treat each other as brothers and sisters. That is a lifelong challenge, modeled by God in the manger. If there is to be peace on earth, it starts with us making peace with one another. That will truly make for a “Merry Christmas”!