Third Advent Candle at the Peace Cathedral – for True Peace. Reflection by Pastor Irma Gegeshidze

The theme of our week today is true peace. We may think that if bombs are not falling on our heads and we do not hear the whistling of bullets, then we have true peace. But it may be that we are living in such a reality that, no matter which area of our lives we look at, we have no peace anywhere, we do not feel calm, safe, or stable anywhere, and we may be living in a reality that is equivalent to war.

When I was thinking about true peace, I had a great temptation to list all the afflictions and misfortunes that plague us today, the reality in which we live. That would have taken us very far.

Therefore, our gaze as believers is always directed toward the One from whom true peace comes.

The light, and the radiance of that light, which comes from the One who gives us true peace, never fades. This is exactly where I wanted to direct our gaze, to make this our focus.

What is true peace, and what does true peace look like? The meaning and essence of this word are well expressed by the Hebrew word “shalom.” When one Jew meets another, they greet each other by saying, “Peace be upon you.” This is not merely a blessing or a polite greeting. It means a blessing and a wish that God grant you peace in all areas of life, grant you goodness and prosperity, health and wholeness.

“Shalom” has always been a word that had many meanings. It meant not only political peace, nor the kind of peace that today is sometimes presented to us as something that requires placing the yoke of slavery on our necks and losing our freedom in exchange for peace. No. This peace also includes freedom. It includes both political and economic well-being, a person’s mental, spiritual, and physical health, and healthy social relationships.

The Hebrew word “shalom” expresses the peace that the Lord gives us. For the Lord tells us, “My peace I give you” not the kind of peace the world gives, but God’s peace. Peace is not merely good wishes; it is the taking of responsibility upon ourselves to become that peace for one another—whoever we may be, immortal or mortal, rulers or ordinary citizens of this country. We must all become the peace that God gives us and share that peace with the world.

Our prayer today should be this: that God grant us, help us understand, and enable us to create true peace in our lives—to be bearers of this peace and to share it with the world.