Lutherans and many other Christian traditions "share the peace" as a regular part of worship. "The peace of Christ be with you always," the pastor/priest says. And the congregation responds, "And also with you," or words to that effect.
It is a sweet ritual, this wishing of peace from one to the other. But it is more than a ritual. It is a blessing in ritual form, a prayer for the other to know God.
The peace of Christ is not just any peace. It is a wish for more than the absence of conflict. It is a wish for far more -- a wish for a peaceful life, a wish for wholeness, a wish for shalom. It is more than the prophet Micah's simple prescription for righteousness: "...to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8), though this is perhaps part of Christ's peace.
The peace of Christ is also the wish that the other know "the peace that passes understanding," the trust in the love of God and a deep gratitude for the salvaton that is His gift through Christ. At its heart, sharing the peace is nothing more nor less than the sharing of a desire for the other to find the joy and peace of faith in God's creating, redeeming, and sustaining love.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment