Peace on Earth: When?

Nearly everyone loves a good Christmas story. Right? Jesus is born in a warm, stable surrounded by clean animals that look at him adoringly while they eat. Mary feels great after delivering in a stable (I should have considered that option when I opted for the birthing inn...she looks SO good). Joseph is calm; you have to wonder what kind of stash he had found in that barn?

And the angels sing and the shepherds come and it is all "Peace on earth, good will toward men." It is lovely.

And then later, the Wise Men come and they bring him great gifts and they bow down and worship him. And there was the Star. All so very lovely.

Except this. I want to say:

"God, the Star. Not a good idea. And the Wise Men? Why don't you have them stay home? Or tell them to come later, more quietly. Definitely stop them from letting the cat out of the bag and telling Herod."

Because really, this is a peaceful event. Jesus is coming to bring peace and love.

Only Jesus really never has delivered. For gold, frankincense, and myrrh and the worship of three foreign kings, a town of baby boys under 2 was slaughtered.

It seemed to let up for awhile but then a new round of deaths started after His own life was taken. In fact Jesus seems to disown the whole "peace" thing when he says: “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." -Matthew 10:34  
The history of the martyrs is one thing; but I still get a little mystified over those little boys in Bethlehem that died so Jesus could get gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 

The spiritual part of me can say "Worship is worth it." Any price...fall at His feet, bring Him gifts. I do believe that. But I would reverently request a chance to discuss this when I get to heaven. 

My world has felt far too violent. I don't need to go into it all here but having lost a family member to a violent murder has had an impact on me. I expect bad things to happen. I had a stomach ache all day while my husband was in the middle of a crazy political scene where protesters became violent. I keep it together externally fine. I just have stomach pain. A gunman went crazy today in a shopping mall I've been to a hundred times in a place I called home for 10 years of my life. People died. I'm up waiting for names to be released. That's the way I roll. 

But the angel did say "Peace on earth!" How? When? 

And that I think is Advent. He is the answer...but the waiting is not done yet. We still wait. We still cling to the hope of a peaceful earth. No amount of bumper stickers or political ideology will bring it about. If the baby who came to die isn't it, it will never happen. I believe Him. Do you?