A thought on this day: Let there be peace on earth

In reading the Scripture above, one phrase stands out more this year than most: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.
This is one of those years that the phrase peace on earth takes on special meaning.
Americans have felt the weight of those words before. Nearly 90 years ago and 60 years ago, during two world wars, peace was very difficult to find. In the early 1950s Americans joined other U.N. forces in Korea. Forty years ago, America was just beginning to feel the pain of loss as we sent soldiers to Vietnam and a decade later, that pain was still fresh.
Now on another Christmas Day, Americans have something to hope for in the spirit of the season: peace.
For the vast majority of Americans, of course, the wish for peace is not as intense as it is for the families of some 150,000 servicemen and servicewomen serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. And while we may pause over the words peace on earth and make them a special prayer this Christmas, the phrase is likely to bring tears to the eyes of only those who are separated from their loved ones by the absence of peace.
And when peace returns -- and no one knows when that might be -- there will still be tears for those who have lost life or limb during this break in the peace.
A message, not a promise
Even this year though, when we have sent our soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen to war, the spirit of Christmas is not negated. The angels of scripture brought a message of peace, not a promise.
The manger around which humble shepherds and noble kings gathered symbolizes equality, it does not assure it.
If you wakened early this morning and looked low in the southeast sky you would have seen something akin to the celestial display that led the Magi to Bethlehem. Mercury, Venus and Mars were visible together, if not obscured by clouds, and nearby the star Antares sparkled, the brightest thing in the sky. You could call it the Star of Bethlehem, but that would not make it so.
Peace and goodwill among mankind cannot be gained through reading a story, even if that story is read every year for 2,000 years.
They can only be gained when people resolve to make the message of peace a reality.
The need to work toward that goal is central to the Christmas story, but it is not unique to Christianity or any one religion.
On earth, seeking peace is everyone's job. Today is an especially good day to remember that.