Festival of St. Simon & St. Jude, Apostles
John 14:21-27
[Jesus said to the disciples:] 21 “They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me, and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words, and the word that you hear is not mine but is from the Father who sent me.
25 “I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
“The Peace of the Lord be with you always. An also with you.” Many of us say these words during every worship service, and then everyone shares the peace in some way. Often it becomes a time to say hi to someone you haven’t seen for awhile, or to check in with someone who recently had surgery, or to give condolences after a death in the family, or to talk about where you’re going to lunch after worship…
Sometimes it’s good for us to stop and ask ourselves why we do what we do. Why do we have this strange little ritual in the middle of worship? It’s actually an important part of our life together as a worshipping community.
When the Presider offers the Peace of Christ to the congregation, they are offering a tangible thing. The Peace that Jesus left with us is a part of his real presence with us in the world. It proceeds out from the Presider to the people who then share it among themselves. When we look another person in the eye, shake their hand/hug/kiss them, and speak God’s Peace to them, it is a Sacred exchange which sanctifies (makes holy) both partners. As the Body of Christ shares the Peace of Christ, the entire Body in heaven and on earth is enriched by it.
Prayer: May the Peace of the Lord be with you always. AMEN