A far away stable cave holds
What the universe cannot contain—
Jesus, the Messiah,
The Prince of Peace
Sent forth by the God of Peace.
Peace to all.
Let there be peace on earth!

A young courageous bride
Holds in her arms
And suckles at her breast
The Son of God,
The Son of Man,
The Word made flesh.
Let there be peace on earth!

A humble carpenter
From the backwoods
Gazes upon the newborn child.
Reeling from months of uncertainty
He now rests assured—
God is with us.
Let there be peace on earth!

Lowly shepherds with dirty hands
Come in from the fields
To see what is the stir.
Who is this child—
A homeless child of poverty?
The fullness of divinity.
Let there be peace on earth!

A jealous, petty tyrant
Worries about his power.
The Prince of Peace and his family
Become refugees from terror.
Fearing Herod and trusting God,
They flee to Egypt.
Let there be peace on earth!

Mary patiently teaches Jesus—
He shall put down the powerful
And raise up the lowly.
God is with the poor,
The downtrodden, the exploited.
He will liberate them.
Let there be peace on earth!

The homeless preacher sets out
The reign of God is here.
Things have been upside downed
Love one another.
Love your enemies.
Feed the hungry.
Let there be peace on earth!

Having enraged the Romans and priests,
Jesus faces execution.
“Put away your sword, Peter.”
“My kindom is not of this world.”
Love one another
As I have loved you.
Let there be peace on earth!

Iraq, Afghanistan, Rwanda—
The violence continues.
Economics rule.
Might is right.
Not welcome in an inn then
The Prince of Peace still unwelcome today.
Let there be peace on earth!

Yet, the God of Peace
Is sending the Prince of Peace.
Hope abounds amid despair.
Joy among angst.
Peace among violence.
The flickering flame grows—
Let there be peace on earth!

Jesus is the face of God.
We are the face of Jesus.
Let us root violence from our hearts.
Let us confront all injustice.
Let us proclaim the Prince of Peace
And welcome Him.
Let there be peace on earth!

J. Patrick Mahon
© 2007