An invitation to live God's peace

For the last two years we have struggled with what Covid has done to our lives. Most of us have learned to live with masks, keep our distance, and to care for each other in the way that we keep ourselves safe. It has been tough. It continues to be hard, even when we feel like pretending it is all over. Climate change keeps nagging away. War in Ukraine is on our televisions each night. Inflation is hurting our back pockets. There is much to grieve, to feel hopeless about. It is easy to give into fear. 

In the Gospel reading today from John we join the disciples at the last supper. They too were filled with fear, hopelessness and grief. Their lives had been turned upside down and their futures look bleak. To these Jesus offers the promise that they would not be alone. In the midst of all that would happen, both in the crucifixion and beyond, they would know his presence, and they would know his peace. Jesus would have used the Aramaic for peace which is derived from the Hebrew world shalom. Wikipedia says that Shalom (שָׁלוֹם) “is a Hebrew word meaning peace, harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity, welfare and tranquillity.”^[1] It is so much more than our use of the word.

This peace changed how they lived their lives. I have no doubt the fear remained. But it was infused with hope and love. God's wholeness changed everything. We see that same peace at work in the events we remembered on April 29th. For some at Gate Pa and during the conflicts it changed how they lived in the face of those conflicts. They were no longer overwhelmed by despair. They lived offering life. 

We too are offered the same assurance of peace, of completeness, harmony, and wholeness. How does that help our approach to life?

 

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[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shalom