During the time of Micah, a contemporary of the prophet Isa, the two kingdoms – Israel in the north and Judah in the south – had fallen into evil times. The reasons were painfully shown to them by God’s prophets: first, the people’s infidelity to the Covenant, relying instead in alliances with earthly powers, and, second, the inner corruption of God’s chosen people who cheated and oppressed the poor among them, worshipped idols and went so low as to practice the abominable sacrifice of their children by burning them.

Yet, God did not give up on His chosen people, He reminded them through his prophet “what the Lord requires of you; only to act justly, love tenderly and to walk humbly before the Lord.” (Micah 6:8)

Moreover, God promised His people that one day true peace will come, for “from you, Bethlehem of Ephratah…shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel…He shall stand firm and shepherd his flock by the strength of the Lord in the majestic name of the Lord, his God; and they shall remain, for now his greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth. He shall be peace.” (Micah 5:1-4).

Eight centuries later, the prophecy of Micah found its fulfillment in the person of Christ who proclaimed: “Peace I give you, my peace I leave with you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you.” (John 14:27)

Many centuries after Christ two neighboring nations were on the verge of a bitter war. At one point Argentina and Chile massed their armies to fight over some disputed territory high up in the Andes. Much blood would have been shed; many fathers would have buried their sons. Before precious lives and wealth could be wasted, the bishops of these two peoples – closely related in race and, most especially in faith – wisely asked their armies to lay down their arms and ask for peace based on Christ.

So, on Easter Sunday the two governments, upon the urging of their bishops, agreed to forego war and declare peace. To mark a lasting peace, the cannons – designed to cause harm and death – were melted down and used to cast a huge statue of the Lord which they placed on the disputed territory. These days, people gaze at the statue gratefully and call it “The Christ of the Andes.”

Written at the base of the gigantic statue are the words, “These mountains shall fall and crumble to dust before the people of Chile and Argentina shall forget their solemn covenant sworn at the feet of Christ.”

There is a peace only the Lord can give. We take courage and look to the future with hope, for He has said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” (John 14:28)