13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

14 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’

heavenly-hostSo, when do we get to the “on earth peace…” part?

The world is torn by endless strife, disharmony, and violence. The song of the “heavenly host” seems more fantasy than reality.

But, perhaps I am not looking deeply enough. Perhaps the peace about which the angels sang is in a different realm. Could there be a peace that does not have to wait for the termination of all human conflict?

The song of the “heavenly host” did not stop with peace on earth. It went on to qualify those among whom this “peace” will be known. “Peace on earth” is known by “those whom he favours.”

No matter how constrained and difficult my circumstances may be, as long as I am breathing, my heart is beating, and the blood is running through the veins in my body, I am among “those whom he favours.”

Every breath is a blessing. Every beat of my heart is a gift. I did not create myself. I lack the power to sustain my life. It is all grace.

When I stop and take into my heart the deeply gifted nature of life, some new dimension opens within my being. I know I am among “those whom he favours.” No matter how I may struggle with the surface realities of life, in a deeper place, peace begins to be born.

The peace the angels promised does not depend upon my circumstances being a certain way. It is present in the midst of tensions, conflicts, even violence.

In the letter to the Philippians it is called the peace “which surpasses all understanding.” (Philippians 4:7) It is not comprehensible by human reason. It transcends all earthly conditions. It is the gift Jesus was born to bring and that he bestows in this life upon those whose hearts open to the “favour” with which they have been blessed.

What surface circumstances of my life most often cause me to become disconnected from my awareness of the gifted nature of all life?

How do I reconnect with that deep peace that is present regardless of the circumstances on the surface of my life?