Today is the second Sunday of the Advent season, the day we light the peace candle. Not that there’s much peace in the world today, especially in the Middle East.

The absence of peace is a reminder of why we need Advent and Christmas. Jesus came to bring peace. Left on our own, we humans have a tendency to get into fights with each other. Big fights with lots of violence.

Peace is not the first word that comes to mind when you think about humanity. Probably not the twentieth word either. We talk a lot about it, and the need for it – but there is always a reason to break the peace. I wonder if there is anything more fragile.

Today, as churches across the world light the Peace candle on their Advent wreaths, let us all do what we can to bring peace to those around us, while praying for peace in our battered world.