The Peace of Christ

Genesis opens with chaos. When God began His creation work, He brought harmony over chaos and He declared that His creation good 7 times in Genesis 1. When the first Adam fell, he was alienated from himself, from his fellow men, from the creation and from God. There would not be peace.
At the birth of John the Baptist, his father Zachariah prophesized that God would guide our feet into the way of peace (Luke 1:79). When Jesus was born, the choir of angels sang that there would be peace on earth among men with whom God is pleased (Luke 2:14). Yet, when Jesus began his mission, he declared that he did not come to give peace on earth but division (Luke 12:51). It is because his peace is different from that the world gives.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you (John 14:27).
Modern Olympic Games are supposed to uphold world peace through athletic competitions. Yet, the recent Olympic torch relays demonstrate well that there is no peace in sight. People politicize this event to attack the ascending China in the global arena. Peace of this world has to be negotiated through compromises. Compromises depend on the circumstances which are such an unstable thing. When circumstances change, it is no longer tangible to honour a compromise. Thus, the peace achieved would not endure.
Christ achieves peace, not through compromises, but through his blood. His death on the cross reconciles not only sinners to God, but also Pilate to Herod (Luke 23:12). The vertical bar of the crucifix connects sinners to God, the horizontal men to their enemies. While peace on world remains on the horizontal, it takes the vertical to firmly ground peace in God. Therefore, the peace of Christ is achieved with his cross!
Christians are called to be instruments of God's peace. We reconcile ourselves to our enemies and together to God. Can our principal be reconciled to the teaching staff? Can we together be reconciled to God? Oh, it looks like an impossible mission! In the academic meeting yesterday, John offered several opportunities to the principal for him to emerge. Yet, the principal made no response, showed no expression on his face. He looked petrified.

My sweet Jesus, make us ready to reconcile to You and to colleagues holding different views. Help our principal to emerge from his office. With continued bickering, Shung Tak will be grounded to a standstill and plunge. Oh, I am too pessimistic. Give light to us who sit in darkness and the shadow of death and guide our feet into the path of peace. Amen.