This week’s reflection is written by Marlo (White) Obiajulu. Marlo is newly married to Stephen Obiajulu, and they are expecting twins! Marlo currently is a learning specialist at Brilla Veritas Middle School in Bronx, NY. She served in Cohort 10 at Brilla Veritas Middle as a 5th Grade teacher and a 6th Grade catechist.
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of goodwill.”
The Gloria was a hymn that was originally reserved for Christmas only during the early Roman church and was only sung by the bishops. We now have the joy of getting to sing this throughout the year. This hymn is most joyful to sing and begins with the angelic teaching from Luke 2:14 at Jesus’ birth. This first line is centered most importantly on God but also on peace, the virtue associated with the Second Week of Advent.
It’s an interesting question to ask “What does peace to people of goodwill mean?” However, before it can be answered we must understand what peace means in the Old Testament.
- Isaiah 26:3, “Thou dost keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in thee.”
- Isaiah 48:22, “There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.”
- Psalm 119:165, “Great peace have those who love thy law nothing can make them stumble.”
- Psalm 34:14, “Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.”
It seems that there are two key aspects of peace. The first is that peace is a gift from God as shown in Isaiah 26:3, “Thou dost keep him in perfect peace.” God is the one who keeps us in peace; it is a gift and virtue from the Lord our God that we can receive from Him and ask Him for. The second key aspect seems to be that the way we can receive this gift that God gives is, that we can be a people of goodwill or God’s will. This is shown in Psalm 119:165, “Great peace have those who love thy law.”
When we love God and therefore desire to do His will and take action to follow His will, we have peace. As Christians we know that it is difficult to follow God’s will and it is challenging to determine what God’s will is, but He gives us guidance from Holy Scripture, Church Teachings, and the Holy Spirit. Come Holy Spirit, let us receive His peace!
