Handel’s “Messiah” was written in 1741 as an Easter oratorio; however, two of it’s pieces are more closely associated with Christmas music: “For Unto Us a Child is Born” and “Hallelujah”. The former memorializes Isaiah’s prophecy about the birth of Jesus Christ and the names by which he will be called, or the roles he will play:
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
For Unto Us a Child is Born, Part 4
The Prince of Peace
I had already been in line for about thirty minutes and I was only about halfway to the counter. My rental car needed to be exchanged because the original had a flat tire.
The manager came up to the line and apologized. Based on his description of what was happening, it looked like I’d be waiting about another 45 minutes. I was frustrated; the last thing I wanted to be doing on vacation during the holidays was to wait in line.
A woman ahead of me left the line and approached the manager. She was pretty rude. As I watched, I noticed her family–still in line–shrink in embarrassment.
After she walked away, one of the employees suggested to the manager something like, “If she gets to my counter I am going to be so rude to her.”
The manager simply responded, “That’s not how we treat people.”
This exchange underscored for me some thoughts I have had lately about how we treat each other. Whether it’s in a busy shopping center or while driving in traffic or when making a comment online, the ability to be disrespectful without consequence to people we cannot see or may never see again is rampant. But it’s not who we should be.
Russell M. Nelson taught, “One of the easiest ways to identify a true follower of Jesus Christ is how compassionately that person treats other people . . .The Savior’s message is clear: His true disciples build, lift, encourage, persuade, and inspire—no matter how difficult the situation. True disciples of Jesus Christ are peacemakers.”1
This is who I want to be–a peacemaker.
Jesus Christ came to earth as the Prince of Peace as prophesied by Isaiah (Isaiah 9:6). If we allow Him, he can bring us peace–a state of tranquility or quiet, a state of security, freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions, and harmony in personal relations.2
Consider these words from the prophet Abinadi:
“O how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that is the founder of peace, yea, even the Lord, who has redeemed his people; yea, him who has granted salvation unto his people” (Mosiah 15:18).
The feet of the Prince of Peace, “the founder of peace”, are beautiful upon the mountain because of what they bring: peace.
Likewise, our feet will be beautiful if they have brought, are bringing, or will yet bring peace (Mosiah 15:14-17).
That’s what I want to do–bring peace.
Lately, I have not been able to think of anything I want for Christmas, so my answer to my family has been the quixotic response, “World peace.” To which the reply is a sigh and some sort of statement as to how impossible it is to shop for me sometimes.
That said, while world peace would be nice, it is not something that we lay citizens are in a position to facilitate.
However . . .
We can publish or bring peace to our immediate sphere of influence by what we choose to say, do, and be.
And, it might be as easy as doing what He would do if He were here, because “as we follow the Prince of Peace, we will become His peacemakers.”3
So, in the hustle and bustle of the holidays, when the lines are long and the traffic is bad, maybe we can simply start here:
“This Christmas, mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak it again.”4
1 “Peacemakers Needed“, Russell M. Nelson, General Conference, April 2023
2 See the definitions for “Peace” found in the Merriam-Webster online dictionary
3 “Peacemakers Needed“, Russell M. Nelson, General Conference, April 2023
4 “The Gifts of Christmas“, Howard W. Hunter, Ensign, December 2002
Author’s note: On Christmas Eve 2021, I read a Facebook post from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland where he recounted a personal Christmas experience that changed his perspective of Christmas. In part, he shared this self-rebuke, “…Put your theology where your Christmas carols are” (read his full post here). I decided to take some time and think through the messages of some of these carols. I rediscovered that the truths these Christmas hymns teach can help us understand the “good tidings of great joy” (Luke 2:10) spoken of by the angel to the shepherds on the night of the Savior’s birth.
Lead Photo by Nitish Meena on Unsplash
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