Christmas Peace

As we consider Peace on this advent Sunday, we go back to the most basic meaning of the Hebrew term for peace, which is "shalom". Shalom means wholeness or completeness. From there, we get other uses of the word, ideas like calmness or lack of conflict. If we are complete or whole (and don't have any more needs or insecurities), we experience what we typically mean by peace. Where is your peace coming from this Christmas? And when you hear Jesus say, "blessed are the peace makers", what does that mean for you? How do you become one of those people? Thinking about the meaning of shalom, we understand that when we try to make people or situations "whole" or "unbroken", we bring peace. May we give the gift of peace to our world this Christmas.