Luke 2:1-14 “Peace Out”
About two years ago, we had some visitors from the mainland come to stay with us. How it worked out, however, is that we had a youth camp to attend up on the North Shore at the same time, so these guests got to stay at the parsonage and watch things while we were away. The father of the family staying at the parsonage had the responsibility, therefore, of watering our vegetable garden.
After returning to the mainland, I got a call from the family. Naturally I asked them what they enjoyed most about Kauai. For each person in the family there was a different response. For instance, their son enjoyed Jo Jo’s shave ice the most. But, the father in the family enjoyed watering the vegetable gardening the most of all that they had done on this island. He was being sincere. He found it to be the most peaceful experience he has had in a long while. He really found the calmness and beauty of watering the garden to help heal his soul.
So, I got to thinking: Rather than my watering the vegetables in the garden everyday, I could get a tour company to bring a busload of tourists in to water my vegetables for me, and then I could charge them so much a head for the experience! What do you all think?
I want to focus on this idea of the peace of Christ this Christmas Eve. We have read that the angelic host proclaimed “peace on those whom God favors.” So, we should probably ask ourselves what this proclamation really means for us.
Let me start by saying that I am amazed truly that a proclamation of peace should be made during such a thing as childbirth. I have been present through a couple of them: not really very peaceful! I would not describe them as such. I won’t get into the particulars, but I am sure you all know what I mean just the same.
Moreover, this particular birth seems to have had more than its share of extenuating circumstances as well. The family must travel by foot and donkey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, several days’ journey, in order to be registered by a Roman census in order that they may be taxed in the future. To make the situation worse, there is no place for them in the Inn at Bethlehem. They are forced to find what shelter they can with the animals in the stable. To me, if I were in Mary and Joseph’s predicament, I would find little peace. Then, once the baby is born, this strange shepherds show up. Angels are singing outside. Three kings from the east also come a-knocking. This does not bespeak peace in my mind. I would be pulling my gray hair out! This affirms the old adage: “One can only have peace as long as the neighbor pleases.”
To be sure, it is not just the angels at the time of Christ’s birth that want to grant peace out. Christ himself in his ministry is always bestowing blessings of peace on others. There is the woman in Luke 7 who anoints Jesus’ feet. In 7:50 Jesus tells her to, “Go in peace.” Luke 8:48, Jesus tells the woman who is healed of the flow of blood to also go in peace. Jesus in the Beatitudes tells us “blessed are the peacemakers.” This can be your homework this evening: instead of going home and sipping eggnog and opening presents with loved ones, you can do a word study in the Bible about how often Jesus and later the Apostles wish blessings of peace upon us! I am just kidding of course, I would not want to steal your peace this Christmas!
We Christians should take it as part of our own ministry to wish peace out upon others in our lives. Recently I learned a new Hawaiian word. Every time I learn a new one I have to preach about it! I had already known that one word for “peace” in Hawaiian was “maluhia.” But, one day not too long ago, I heard the word “ho’omaha.” This interested me because the “ho’o” in front makes it kind of royal or special. The “maha” is rest. So, in Hawaiian there is this idea of “royal rest” or excellent peace.
When our family lived in Washington State in a little town almost dead center of the State, we decided one Christmas to drive the hundred+ miles to the city of Spokane to enjoy a little culture. We got tickets to the orchestra that was playing in the famous Spokane Opera House, which is situated right on the Spokane River. Since it was an evening performance, we also booked a hotel room at the hotel across the river. One can actually walk over a pedestrian bridge from one to the other.
When we got to Spokane, we got into the hotel room and changed for the orchestra, putting on nice clothes and all. We walked across to the Opera House and made it to our seats. As we looked around, we kind of noticed that others around us seemed quite underdressed for the orchestra. Oh well. Then, the “orchestra” came out on stage. It was a rock band: The Trans-Siberian Orchestra, a heavy-metal rock band. We had no idea what we were in for. The music was loud, screaming, obscured Christmas carols. It was so loud we could hardly tolerate it. Our children were there, and they were covering their ears. The audience was screaming in between the songs, too. Well, we could not stay for the entire show. We, and as I recall many others, walked out in the middle of the show.
As soon as we got outside into the crisp air with a gentle snow falling over the Spokane River and our ears stopped ringing, I felt a great peace and calmness come over me. I was not even upset that I had paid good money for the tickets and the hotel, I was just so happy to be out of the din inside the Opera House. The peace was excellent, brilliant even. I am thinking still today, that that is the kind of peace that the angels at Christ’s birth and Jesus himself wish upon us in this life. That is the kind of excellent peace that I wish on you in the name of Christ this evening.
By the way, to be fair, I have since heard the Trans-Siberian Orchestra on the radio do a descent job of modernizing Christmas carols. Just when they are live apparently, are they too loud for me.
Going back to our Scripture now, there is something at the end of the phrase that the angels say about peace that we need to look at. The angels say “Peace to those whom God favors.” I know that some Bibles do not say that; however, that is what is actually in the Greek manuscripts: “Peace to whom God favors.”
The Greek word here is “evdokia.” This means to “show favor upon.” I know this word quite well because when I studied on the island of Alonnisos in Greece our next-door neighbor was Kuria Evdokia. That is right! Her last name meant to “show favor.” She was the greatest neighbor one could ever hope to have. She sat outside on her porch in the afternoons just inviting people to sit down and have lemonade and baklava with her. The little Greek village had no roads, just donkey paths and walkways with steep steps. So, eventually everybody had to go by Kuria Evdokia’s porch and stop for baklava! She showed favor on anybody who would stop and share a little time with her. (She was a widow, and a little lonely.)
What should it mean though that God would show favor on some? Does that mean that God does not favor others? What do we have to do to be favored by God? If you are a parent yourself, you know how dangerous it is to talk about favorites. Siblings always think the other sibling is the favorite child. Mr. Nishi, a member of the Bible Study group we host at the Pua Kea Regency retirement center, shared with me once that he had been asked by his children which among them he favored most. He responded by saying that he favored the family dog the most! (I will use that line if my own children ever come to me with that question!)
Yes, according to the Bible, the absolute Word of God, the Father in heaven favors some over others. Like it or not, there is the Truth. And, as we hear from the angels singing over Christ’s birth, those whom God favors will be granted great peace.
Listen to the logical conclusion that I am going to draw from this and tell me if I am right: “If you want to know the excellent peace of Christ in your life, work to find God’s favor.” That makes sense, right? Isn’t that what we must do? God will grant peace to those whom he favors; hence, finding favor with God will mean that you will be poised to receive that heavenly peace in your life.
When I was growing up and wanted to find favor with my parents, I started doing things that might be appreciated by them. Yes, I set the table without being asked. I took out the garbage. I washed my father’s car. I cooked a meal so that my mother did not have to. Hey, I would even listen to my parents from time to time in order to find favor with them.
If we apply this idea to the larger picture, if you want to find peace, find favor with God, do something for God! Pray a prayer. Read a Scripture. Help a neighbor in need. Lead someone to Christ. Help heal the world. God will find favor with these things, and the peace of Christ will come to you.
Let me just close by stating that if this doesn’t bring peace to your life, then you are always welcome to come over to water my vegetable garden.
Amen.