Last Friday I, probably like you, heard the news story of 315 Nigerian children being abducted from their Catholic school by armed militants in want of ransom money. As I thought about this upcoming Advent themed article I had been planning, I felt myself growing uncomfortable with using the word peace.

Peace is a word we Christians banter around in church, on retreats and in newsletter articles. In Advent the word ends up with even more airtime than the rest of the year.

In Jeremiah chapter 6 we are told of the offense God takes when his children speak “peace, peace” when there is, in fact, no peace. Over the next 4 weeks millions of Jesus loving Christians, myself included, will read, sing, and preach the word peace. But is there peace?

At what point does writing articles about the peace of Advent while sitting next to a crackling wood stove at a retreat center, knowing meanwhile violence is burning down other parts of the world, start to feel disingenuous at best, pandering to Christmas nostalgia at worst.

Then two things happened to me over the following weekend to remind me that there is a reason why the peace of Christ is a transcendent peace. One that, in the words of poet Wendell Berry having “considered all the facts” “practices resurrection” by remaining “joyful.”

First, my wife shared with me this video of an extraordinary worship service that took place in an area of Mozambique that has suffered both intense persecution, and a recent natural disaster.

Second, our own churches worship service, exploring the extraordinary claim in Colossians 1 that all things hold together in Christ, brought to mind the following C.S Lewis quote: “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”

The tension between my feeling of despair at hearing about the abduction of these beautiful, image bearing, children in Nigeria on Friday, and these two experiences over the weekend revealed something about myself. I am more interested in consuming peace, than pursuing it. Too often, I look for peace in the same way I look for food in a modern grocery store. As a product someone else has already cultivated for me, that I can conveniently consume so I don’t have this ache in my belly.

As I encountered this horrific news story it was as though I looked about, and feeling the shelves were a bit bare of peace this season the ache in my heart made me feel a bit put out. Peace it would seem, must be out of season. Perhaps if I turn off the news and put on some family friendly comedy, the ache will go away.

But these persecuted Christians in Mozambique know what our consumer culture is terrible at remembering. Gospel peace is not merely what we hope to see, it is the reality, in Jesus, by which we are meant to see everything else. Peace is not a product we consume to make the ache in our heart go away. Peace is the light of Christ as it penetrates the darkness of our world whether through tangible aid, or transcendent praise. Our ache for peace must not be filled by more easily accessible products, for it is a holy longing for the full reign of Christ, the prince of peace. Until our King returns therefore, let us wage peace upon a violent world through praying, fasting, feasting, singing, weeping, praising, giving, receiving, and anything lovely that violence has yet to bear away.

If you are able, join a group of fellow believers out at Corhaven for 24 hrs dedicated to pursuing peace this Advent season (see specific invite below). If you can’t make the retreat, no worries, the spirit of peace is making the rounds, simply anchor yourself in the peace that transcends.

Retreat Invite by Zoe Hansen:

A host of angels announced the birth of Jesus saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests (Luke 2:14).”  It seemed absurd even then, what with the Roman occupation and King Herod’s upcoming slaughter of a town full of innocent babies, hoping that one of them was the newborn king of the Jews. What on earth were these angels talking about? And on whom does God’s favor rest?

Later, Jesus comforted his disciples before his violent death saying, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world (John 16:33).” How did this even make sense with what followed?

Many people come on retreat looking for a little peace and quiet, perhaps a soul reset. Most also hope to bring some of that peace back with them into their regular, tumultuous lives. Our goal on this retreat is to consider how we are being invited to participate in the peace Jesus offers, taking heart, so that we can in turn be people of peace in our communities. There is no better time than the season of Advent to pause and take a deep breath, to remember what is true, to rest in his favor, and to receive his “peace that passes understanding.” RSVP here.