Word to the Wise
Tuesday, May 21, 2019 - 5th Week of Easter - Tues
[Acts 14:19-28 and John 14:27-31a]"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid." [John]
The peace that Jesus offers is one that goes to the center of our being, to our faith. At each celebration of the Eucharist, after we pray the Lord's Prayer, we are invited to share that peace with one another. Some people do not find this gesture helpful, yet it is Jesus' gift of peace. Should it be given with only a polite nod?
I have visited with people who were seriously ill or suffering from some traumatic process. Many have said that what got them through it all was their faith. That is the peace that is at the center of things - the faith that the Lord dwells within. Our own faith, shared with another, can awaken the peace of faith in someone else. At the Eucharist this means more than a polite gesture. It is the recognition of Christ's presence in each one of us. This can do a lot for someone whose heart is troubled or afraid. AMEN