The official name of my undergrad degree is a Bachelor of Arts in Peace and Conflict Transformation Studies. Quite the mouthful, right? I spent three years studying the ins and outs of peace keeping, peace making, peace seeking on global, national and individual levels. Inevitably, in all my courses, one question would be brought up “Is peace actually possible?”

It was a question that I was invited to ponder, on both a philosophical, and personal level. 

Many a day, I found myself caught between wanting to hope, and looking at a world that seemed to be constantly leaning towards conflict and violence. This was underscored by the Covid-19 pandemic, which occured in my last year of study. Isolation, vaccines and fear caused division even between my friends and family. How could peace be possible if people who were previously intimate friends were no longer willing to even speak with each other due to differing views?

Now, as we enter into Advent and approach the Christmas season, while also witnessing so many parts of the world experiencing war and violence, many of us find ourselves at a similar point of tension. 

Are the Christmas cards that proclaim “Peace on earth!” simply wishful thinking? Is world peace realistic, on any level? 

Often we think of peace as merely the absence of conflict. We want suffering, violence, war to be erased from this earth. But peace is so much more than simply a lack of conflict. 

In Hebrew, the language of much of the Bible, the word Shalom appears and is often translated into English as “peace”, carrying the connotation of how we see that in modern times. But the true definition of Shalom is “an inward sense of wholeness.” It speaks of restoration, renewal, reconciliation and above all else, the tranquility that comes from being in a right-ordered relationship with God and with others. 

In John 14:27, Jesus says “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” 

Here, we can see that Jesus is not just promising the mainstream “lack of conflict” kind of peace. He offers peace, shalom, that is individual and inherently relational.

Society often comes up with elaborate promises and plans for how world peace can be achieved which ultimately are futile. Jesus’ only plan for peace begins with each of us being in relationship with Him.

It is not our job to worry about some vague idea of what peace on earth might look like. Rather, we must focus on our own relationship with God, and the people who surround us most immediately. When we as individuals are able to be at peace within ourselves and to live in a peaceful manner, that will naturally affect the world. 

Henri Nouwen, a prolific Catholic writer and peace activist wrote of this conversion towards inner peace as being essential to our role in working towards peace. In his book entitled Peacework: Prayer, Resistance, Community, he states “I am asking for a conversion of our whole person so that all we do, say, and think becomes part of our urgent vocation to be peacemakers… My inner peace can be a source of peace for all I meet.”

As we seek to maintain inner peace, we will naturally be compelled to step out of ourselves and work for peace around us. As we pray in the Our Father during every Mass “Thy Kingdom come,” it is our responsibility to be docile to how God is calling us to build his kingdom of shalom and justice. 

Again, this is not a vague platitude. Each of us have talents, resources and time that we can contribute to building God’s kingdom of peace here on earth. But if you’re feeling overwhelmed, start with something small in your local community that in some way fights against injustice. That can be visiting with elderly people who are lonely. It can be financially donating to a local organization that you believe in. It can be bringing your items to a thrift store that gives back to underprivileged people. It can be committing to an hour of intercessory prayer for a specific cause every month. 

These may seem like small things, but Christmas reminds us that peace comes in unassuming forms. 

How did God choose to bring peace to the world? He sent a His son, a baby, not some powerful figure who could instantaneously bring about world peace.

When we feel like the world is unredeemable, we can turn to the story of Christmas to remind us of the truth. Peace starts small. It starts with one person. Christmas reminds us of that truth, as we ponder the Prince of Peace who was born in a stable. 

Let’s remember this, and commit to seeking peace, starting with ourselves.