Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men?

“I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old, familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet

The words repeat

Of peace on earth, goodwill to men!”

Henry Wordsworth-Longfellow, one of the most prominent American writers of the 19th century, composed this poem on Christmas day in 1863. Though written over 150 years ago, this introductory stanza encapsulates what most of us love about this magical season: the “old” thread of traditions weaving through decades and families, the “familiar” songs and, now, movies stitched into our Christmas memories. Even its final phrase, repeated at the end of all seven stanzas, is what most believe the essential fabric of Christmas to be: “peace on earth, goodwill to men.”

Yet, this lighthearted introduction progressively dampens and ends in disillusionment:

“And in despair I bowed my head;

‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said;

‘For hate is strong,

And mocks the song

Of peace on earth, goodwill to men!’”

Written in the midst of the Civil War, when this country was ripping itself apart, two years after Longfellow’s beloved wife’s death, and months after his eldest son was severely wounded after fighting for the Union, this Christmas dirge is all but expected.

Now, in 2017, between the ideological civil war brought by Donald Trump’s first year as president, the literal fires scorching all in its path in the West, the flooding in the South, and the devastating shootings and attacks all over the country, this poem seems appropriate.

The world, like Longfellow, is left begging: Where is this “peace on earth”? Where is this “goodwill to men”?

Amidst the soft hazy glow of twinkle lights, the echoing of Christmas carols and buying and receiving presents it’s easy to distract oneself from the chaos of it all.

But what happens the day after Christmas when the world wakes up and realizes the lights need taking down, playlists have stopped, shreds of wrapping paper need tossing, and ornaments need removing so the garbage truck can pick up the discarded tree on the curb?

What happens when the world can no longer burry its head in the holiday season and must once again face “the real world?”

This is where only the Christian can come in. Where the true gift of Christmas, Jesus Christ savior of the world, is celebrated long before and long after the nostalgic season. The one who provides the only answer and solution to the question posed by Longfellow.

Christmas is a reminder to look back and see all the promises God has fulfilled and all He has done, and provided through Christ’s birth, life, death and resurrection — true peace, joy, goodness and contentment through forgiveness of sins and a new life in Him. Christmas is a reminder to point to Christ’s second advent, when he comes and establishes His kingdom on earth. When people can truly and finally say, “wild and sweet, the words repeat, of peace on earth, goodwill to men!”