September 26, 2022 — Peace

“Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts. Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky. The Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. Righteousness will go before him, and will make a path for his steps.” Psalm 85:8-13 (NRSV)

“Peace is not something you wish for. It is something you make, something you are, something you do, and something you give away.” Robert Fulghum

When we share the peace in our churches, it is a form of the “Kiss of Peace” – a biblical greeting. In my mind, it mimics the statement in the Psalm that says “righteousness and peace will kiss each other”. It is a moment in our day, and in our week where we put aside the hurt feelings, the pain, the sorrow and the grief and we share a moment of peace. The ironic part of sharing the peace is how chaotic it can be in some churches. Many people have come to loathe sharing the peace because it becomes a moment of spontaneous, boisterous, laughter and conversation. But to me it represents life – not death.

When we refuse to share peace, I believe we isolate ourselves to our own detriment. Human touch, however, serves a neurobiological function, helping us all to forge connections. Of course, this is what helps us to form relationships with all kinds of people. Remember, Jesus used touch in his ministry on many occasions. It is when we have these kinds of connections that we cannot help but feel empathy and love for the others in our lives.

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus, help me be a “bringer of peace” to everyone I meet today. Amen.

Pastor Dave