peace talks
"See, upon the mountains there advances the Bearer of good news, announcing peace!" — Nahum 2:1
Nahum prophesied that the Messiah would be "the Bearer of good news, announcing peace." He would completely destroy the enemy (Na 2:1), cast filth upon it, disgrace it, and put it to shame (Na 3:6).
Jesus was the Fulfillment of Nahum's prophecy. However, the enemy to be destroyed was not the Ninevites or even the Romans, but Satan (Eph 6:12; 1 Jn 3:8). Jesus destroyed (see Lk 11:22) and disgraced Satan (Col 2:15) by taking on Himself the punishment due us all. He made peace not by shedding the enemy's blood but by shedding His own precious blood on the cross (Col 1:20).
Therefore, we make peace not by exerting ourselves but by denying ourselves (Mt 16:24), not by crucifying the enemy but by taking up our daily cross (Lk 9:23) and being crucified to the world (Gal 6:14).
Jesus' peace is much different from that of the world (Jn 14:27). The world cannot give it, nor can the world take it away. It is a peace "beyond all understanding" (Phil 4:7). Blest are the peacemakers (see Mt 5:9).
Prayer: "Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace."
Promise: "What profit would a man show if he were to gain the whole world and destroy himself in the process?" —Mt 16:26
Praise: Lorraine changed from "pro-nuke" to "no-nuke" because she could not picture Jesus bombing his enemies.
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert J. Buschmiller, January 29, 1996
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 5, 1996