Advent Series #14
I sit in meditation and prayer on this 14th morning of Advent, reflecting on Peace, which has been the theme for this week’s writings. And so, as we conclude this week of contemplations on Peace, I offer my prayer…that each of us is creating…touching…a deep sense of Peace today, the Peace that passes all understanding. May the Peace of Spirit infuse every moment of your day.
Peace is a commonly used word in the English language, and means different things to different people. It can mean the absence of war or conflict in the world, a country, a neighborhood, or a family. It can mean the ceasing of internal conflict, confusion, or chatter within a single human being. But the kind of Peace that we celebrate during the Advent season goes far beyond these basic definitions. In this context, Peace means not only the absence of war and conflict, but the presence of something much more profound in its place, something that is whole, perfect, and complete.
The Hebrew word for this kind of Peace is Shalom. In its noun form, Shalom refers to something that is in a state of completeness. When used as a verb, it means to make complete, or restore to wholeness. For example, if a farmer’s sheep escapes its own field, wandering into the neighbor’s garden, and mows down the plants that were growing there, the owner of the sheep Shaloms the neighbor…makes reparations. As so often happens when translating between languages, the full meaning of Shalom is not necessarily conveyed in English. Within its definition is the understanding that life is complex and full of moving parts…personal or individual situations, as well as relationships of all kinds. When any of the individual parts is missing, in poor condition, or out of alignment, Shalom breaks down and needs to be restored. To bring Shalom means not only to stop the conflict, but to begin working together for the benefit of all.
The book of Isaiah, from the Hebrew Scripture, spoke of the coming of a Prince of Shalom…Jesus…who would bring Shalom with no end. As the fulfillment of God’s covenant with the Hebrew people, he would make right all wrongs, and heal all that had been broken. In Isaiah 9:6, we find the famous prophecy that is foretold the birth of Jesus: “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, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” Rather than debate whether or not this was a true prophecy, or whether or not the stories about Jesus are factual, let’s talk about something much more powerful. Do these stories offer Spiritual Truth? Do they have something to offer us as we approach 2021? What metaphysical meaning might we take from them?
Let’s look at this verse through the lens of symbolism, since it comes from an Eastern text, written for Eastern ears. We know that most Eastern writings from ancient times made use of metaphor and other mythopoetic forms. Beginning with the phrase Prince of Peace, we understand that a prince is the son of a king. Using Charles Fillmore’s Metaphysical Dictionary, we find that the word king might represent the Divine faculties within the human; the individual consciousness of a human when it is aligned with its spiritual nature; one who lives from her full Spiritual Authority (my paraphrase). And so, the offspring of that one, born in its image and likeness, would be a prince. So metaphysically, Jesus was a human being who knew and lived by his spiritual authority, and he did so to set an example of Peace and Love for others to follow. “My Peace I give unto you.”
“And the government shall be upon his shoulder. And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” This was predicting that someone would come to earth who would serve as an example of how human beings can (and ultimately will) live according to internal guidance, with no need for external motivators, commandments, or punishments. This one would be able to do wonderful, even miraculous things, and would encourage each of us to trust in our power to do the same. He would recognize and act from his Divine Identity, Spirit taken form (He who sees me, sees Him who sent me), and would encourage others to do the same. He would live as one who, living from his spiritual connection and authority, would show humanity how to end both internal and external conflict and live from Unity and Wholeness.
Whether we see him as an actual figure in history…Messiah, Mystic, or Master Teacher…the story of Jesus’s birth and brief life offers an example of one who had fully reconciled his humanity with his Divinity. He fully understood the Unity of all beings…knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that our sense of separation from our creator, and from one another, was an illusion. His example offers us hope, gives examples of what true faith looks like, and encourages us to consider that we, too, are beings of Infinite Possibility. He invites us to live from our inner Guidance and to express our Divine Potential. And he reminds us that we can live a life filled with Belonging and Grace when we consciously choose to live from Love and Compassion.
In your quiet moments, perhaps some contemplation about the true meaning of Peace…of Shalom…might bring richness to your Holy-Day season. Moving beyond the need for drama and conflict, I see humanity living as the perfect, whole, and complete beings that we were created to be. Please join me in this knowing. May the deep Peace of the Advent season fill your hearts and your homes, and may we consciously and willingly move, step by step, toward Peace on Earth.
Know that today and always, I am here to support you.
Know that today and always, you are stronger and wiser than you know.
May we each live from our Radiant Light…be well…stay in touch…know our unity…and thrive!
And…may we know the Absolute Beauty and Wonder of this Grace-filled, once-in-a lifetime day, as Infinite Intelligence continues to pour Its blessings upon our world.
