Prince of Peace
A memory plays on repeat in my head. I can’t seem to shake it. In 2023, when I traveled to the Holy Land, I recall our tour bus being stopped at a check point entering Isreal from the West Bank. Most of the people that I was traveling with were from Texas, and when the Israeli soldier discovered that, he made a lot of immediate assumptions about our group. His eyes lit up when we heard “Texas” and instantly, he held his gun in the air. He waved it overhead with child-like excitement. He clearly thought we would be impressed with his mighty rifle. He was oblivious that most of us were secretly terrified. This is most likely a one-off moment of unprofessionalism, but it still left a profound impression on me.
For me, this crystallized our human fascination with violence. His gesture seemed to say, “surely Americans will share my love for this gun.” I'm not sure his prejudgment was misplaced. Have you noticed that violence is a major theme in nearly every movie, TV show, and video game? The other day, I was watching the news where they played the same bombing clip over and over again for 30 minutes straight. We seem to be obsessed with violence. Sadly, it does not surprise me that violence can escalate at a terrifying speed. Violence has been a part of our human history since the beginning. Violence is even a major component throughout the Bible… it is an ancient problem.
For many people, violence is not an abstract source of recreation or entertainment, it is a daily lived reality. Today, people from the Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf find themselves huddled in shelters, fearing for their lives as the shadow of war looms. Retaliatory strikes are an endless loop of violence. We strike, they strike, we strike… endlessly. Jesus shows us a different way to live.
In the thick of violence, we recall the words of Jesus: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matt 5:9). Today, that calling feels heavier than ever before. When fear threatens to consume our hearts, we must anchor ourselves in the spirit of peace and love. Before Jesus is arrested, he tells Peter to “put your sword back in its sheath” (Matthew 26:52). Jesus insists on peace.
First and foremost, our mission as Christians is to pray… for God to protect the innocent and those caught in the crossfire. Pray for soldiers following orders. Pray for military commanders making decisions. Pray for all people on the ground working for peaceful solutions. During this time, may our Christian voice be one of love. For us, our hope does not come from the strength of missiles, but in the Prince of Peace.
Modeling the teaching of Jesus, we refuse to see our neighbors as enemies. Windows of diplomacy and doors of reconciliation must never be shut. If we believe in the power of the Resurrection, then abundant life for all people is always possible. We are people of perpetual hope. We are eternally optimistic. Together, we place our trust in God. I pray that the Holy Spirit is working in our hearts, moving us closer toward true peace.
With hope,
Pastor Lucas
