Read Luke 2:8-14
ALSO IN SCRIPTURE
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27, NLT).
On this Christmas Day, our hearts turn to the stillness of that Judean night so long ago. As the world celebrates with gift exchanges and festive meals, we are called to pause and reflect on the extraordinary gift of peace that arrived in a humble manger.
Luke’s account of the angelic visitation to the shepherds lies at the heart of our Christmas celebration. It’s a scene that has captured the imagination of generations, much like Roland Joffé’s 1986 film, The Mission, which echoes themes of peace amidst turmoil.
Set in 18th-century South America, The Mission tells a story of redemption and faith that resonates with the Christmas message. The film’s protagonist, Rodrigo Mendoza, undergoes a transformation from a slave trader to a Jesuit missionary—a journey that mirrors the transformative power of the Christ child’s peace.
In one of the film’s most poignant scenes, Mendoza drags a net filled with his former weapons up a treacherous waterfall. This act of penance, culminating in a native cutting away his burden, visually represents the peace that Jesus offers—a peace we celebrate today.
This transformation echoes the shepherds’ experience on that first Christmas. Initially terrified by the angel’s appearance, their fear is dispelled by the proclamation of “good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” The angelic host’s declaration of peace is not just a beautiful sentiment but the very essence of Christmas—a divine promise that the long-awaited Messiah had arrived.
As gifts are opened today, one is reminded of Jesus’ words, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” This peace, unlike any worldly gift, is an internal state of being that sustains us through life’s challenges.
In The Mission, the Jesuit missionaries establish a haven of peace among the Guaraní people, much like how the birth of Jesus established a new era of peace for humanity. The film’s climax presents a choice between armed resistance and non-violent witness, reminding us of the kind of peace Jesus embodies—a peace that doesn’t flee from conflict but stands firm in the face of it.
After witnessing the angelic proclamation and visiting the newborn Jesus, the shepherds returned to their fields, fundamentally changed. On this Christmas Day, we too have encountered the Prince of Peace. Our lives can become a testimony of the peace we have received, compelling us to share this good news.
As Christmas Day unfolds, one is reminded that peace is not merely a feeling but a state of being rooted in our relationship with God. It is a gift that can be shared with others, just as the shepherds did. This Christmas, the call is to be peacemakers in families, communities, and the world, embodying the very peace that came to us in the form of a child in Bethlehem.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of Christ in the midst of our challenges.PRAYER
Prince of Peace, instill in us your divine serenity. May we, like the shepherds, be bearers of your peace in a world that desperately needs it. Amen.
Devotion written by Rev. Todd R. Lattig with the assistance of Perplexity AI.