We gather in the radiant light of Christmas, celebrating the profound mystery of the Incarnation — God taking on human flesh. The second person of the Most Blessed Trinity, the Son of God, is born into our fallen yet redeemed world. Amidst the joy of this sacred season, let us reflect on one of his titles proclaimed by the prophet Isaiah: Christ, the “Prince of Peace.”
What is peace? This question resonates deeply, especially in a world often marked by division, restlessness, and conflict. Saint Thomas Aquinas offers us profound insights into the nature of peace. In his Summa Theologiae (II-II, Q. 29), Aquinas defines peace as the “tranquility of order.” It is a state where all things are in their proper place, rightly ordered in relationship to God, to oneself, and to others.
Peace, according to Aquinas, is not merely the absence of conflict; it is the fruit of justice and love — a harmonious unity rooted in the will of God. At its core, peace is both a natural human desire and a supernatural gift. As Aquinas reminds us, peace is a fruit of charity, the virtue of love. It arises when our hearts are rightly ordered toward God. Only then can we find interior harmony and extend that peace to others. But this peace is fragile if it lacks justice. True peace requires that we act justly, love mercifully, and walk humbly with God. Without justice, peace becomes shallow and unsustainable.
Yet, in our brokenness, where can we find such peace? Only in Christ, the newborn Prince of Peace. Through him, peace be- comes possible, both within us and among us. Let us meditate on how Christ embodies and establishes this peace.
Sin disrupts the fundamental relationship between humanity and God, causing a ripple effect of discord within the soul and among people. Christ’s mission begins with reconciliation. By his Incarnation, he bridges the infinite gap between God and humanity. Through his death and resurrection, he offers himself as the perfect sacrifice, repairing the rupture caused by sin.
As Saint Paul writes, “He is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14). This reconciliation is the foundation of all other peace, for
only when we are at peace with God can we experience true interior and exterior harmony.
Peace is not only personal but communal. The Prince of Peace calls us to live out the Beatitude: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ lays the foundation for peace among individuals and communities through love, forgiveness, humility, and justice. While Christ does not promise a worldly peace devoid of conflict (“I have
not come to bring peace, but a sword” — Matthew 10:34), he offers us the means to overcome enmity through the power of charity and reconciliation.
Ultimately, Christ’s peace is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God, a reign marked by perfect justice, love, and communion. In heaven, the saints experience the fullness of peace, being united completely with God
and one another. What does this mean for us today? As we celebrate Christmas, we are called to be peacemakers, reflecting the peace of Christ in our lives. This begins with allowing his peace to dwell in our hearts through prayer, the sacraments, and acts of charity. It extends to our relationships, where we must seek reconciliation, promote justice, and build unity.
Finally, we are called to be witnesses of hope in a world longing for peace, proclaiming by our lives that the Prince of Peace has come and remains with us. Let us then kneel before the manger, beholding the newborn King, and ask him to make us instruments of his peace. May the Prince of Peace reign in our hearts, our homes, and our world, now and forever.
