For Christians, Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as a human person. They remember that Jesus came to bring ‘peace on earth!’
The tragedy of the Bali bombing, the threat of wars and growing conflict in marriages and families all cause us to wonder: ‘Where is the peace?’ Growth in drugs, alcohol and suicide makes us ask: ‘Why do so many lack inner peace?’
Many today forget that the path to peace Jesus taught is the path to God. Peace grows within people as they follow this path and as peace grows within people, peace grows also between people.
Growing conflict and turmoil in an age of declining interest in Christianity can hardly be surprising to anyone who recalls the original meaning of Christmas. For those who are troubled, Christmas is a reminder that there is another way.
May this Christmas be a time of peace and love for all.