In a small, snow-covered valley nestled between two mountains, Christmas Eve had always been a time of joy and warmth. But this year, the air was heavy with tension. Two neighboring communities, divided by an age-old feud, had stopped speaking to one another. The once-shared traditions of singing carols together and exchanging gifts had been forgotten.
Amidst the silence, a little girl named Clara from the southern village, who believed in the spirit of Christmas, decided to act. She crafted a small lantern out of paper and placed a candle inside. On its side, she wrote ‘Peace on Earth,’ hoping her little message could bridge the enormous divide. She walked alone through the snow, lantern in hand, toward the northern village. As she approached, the people of the northern village gathered at the edge of town, apprehensive of her intentions. But Clara simply held up her lantern, its light glowing softly in the winter night. Without a word, she placed it down between the two villages and smiled.
Moved by her courage and love, a boy from the northern village stepped forward and lit his own lantern. Soon, others followed, one by one, each person bringing their light to the border. The soft glow of the lanterns spread across the snow, melting years of coldness between them.
By midnight, the two villages had gathered together, singing carols and exchanging gifts once more. Under the stars, they realized that peace had always been within reach if only someone dared to offer the first light. That night, surrounded by warmth and unity, they celebrated Christmas as one, with hearts full of love, hope, and peace.
Peace begins with a simple gesture, but its spirit overcomes all conflicts and divisions. But we cannot share what we do not enjoy. We must experience peace within before we can become ambassadors of peace. A conflicting and divided heart can never long to establish and offer peace. Nor can we hope to experience peace in the world if we do not have peace in our own lives and families. Inner and outer conflicts are not so different; peace begins with transforming our minds.
One may think that financial success will make life stress-free, meeting the right person will make life complete, or that getting a good home will bring peace. But it is not the circumstances but the interior mindset that makes us peace-makers or peace-breakers. Peace of the Christmas night depended not on the circumstances of the birth but on The One who was born.
One who lives in peace can share it. Saint Paul says: “Let the peace of God rule in your heart” (Colossians 3:15). Jesus is the Prince of Peace. On Christmas Eve, the angels proclaimed what the prophet Isaiah had prophesied hundreds of years before Christ’s birth: “Glory to God in the highest Heaven, and on earth, peace among those whom He favors.” (Luke 2:14) The word for peace in Hebrew, Shalom, is not the absence of problems or conflicts. Rather, it is the harmony and tranquility one experiences internally. Saint Augustine writes: “Peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of God.” True peace comes when we open our hearts to Christ and allow His love to fill our lives. This peace cannot be shaken by the troubles of the world because it is rooted in the eternal promise of God’s love and salvation.
O Baby Jesus, the Prince of Peace, help me find peace amidst chaos and strength in times of weakness that surpass all understanding.
