Peace on Earth by eRev. Chad Cooper
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. (Ephesians 2:13-17 NIV)
As an Air Force Chaplain, I am especially drawn to stories of hope and resilience in the midst of conflict. One such story took place during World War II. A German mother named Elisabeth Vincken and her son Fritz were forced to move into a small hunting cottage near the German-Belgian border after their home and bakery were destroyed by Allied bombings.
On December 24, 1944—during the Battle of the Bulge, the bloodiest conflict of the war—three lost American soldiers, one of them wounded, knocked on Elisabeth’s door seeking shelter. Despite the risk of severe punishment for aiding the enemy and personal harm to both her and her son, Elisabeth welcomed them in. To her surprise, soon after, four German soldiers—also separated from their unit and desperate for warmth—arrived seeking refuge. Though enemies sharing such close quarters could have led to deadly consequences, Elisabeth insisted there would be no fighting on Christmas Eve and invited them all to share her home in peace.
That night, she prepared a simple but hearty meal, and soon the unlikely guests were singing Christmas carols together. Even more remarkable, one of the German soldiers, a former medical student, treated the wounded American. The next morning, the Germans showed the Americans on a map how to return safely to their lines before they went their separate ways.
Our Scripture today reminds us that Christ is our peace—breaking down barriers and making two groups into one. While this truth begins in the spiritual realm, it can also be physically manifested when people choose to act in the spirit of reconciliation. In a world fractured by war, politics, and conflict—from Ukraine to Gaza to our own communities—this story reminds us that Christ still breaks chains and heals even the deepest divisions.
If peace could emerge among soldiers on opposing sides during the deadliest war in history, imagine the peace Christ can bring to our hearts, homes, and world this Christmas season and beyond.
Reference: https://www.beachesofnormandy.com/articles/A_Christmas_miracle_in_the_Ardennes/?id=c7cbc8f92c