Humanity has always sought peace it can never achieve. Failing the finding of peace, the quest has invariably diverted to a seeking for power, control, domination. Frustrated attempts in this have led to the world’s worst evils. Every age has seen this play out. Every age has seen these sometimes-wild efforts unravel with sickening results, the near-devastation of innocent societies. Jesus’ birth came at the time when Rome was the aggressor, brutally enforcing Pax Romana (ironically, Roman Peace) in Israel through military power, ironclad control and intimidating domination. But it is Jesus who is our sought-after peace. We can know full, realized peace (shalom) only in his presence.