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Pass the Peace

Writer's picture: DeborahDeborah



Psalm 122:7 ESV

Matthew 5:9 ESV

2 Corinthians 5:20 CEV

Acts 1:8 (scattering)

Ephesians 4:1-6 ESV


Some churches in today’s world practice ‘passing the peace’ regularly. Passing the peace is an ancient practice that is scriptural.


Psalm 122:7 says, “Peace be within your walls     and security within your towers!”


Psalm 122 was written by David as a song of one who entered or would enter the city of Jerusalem through the gate to the city. David declared there was peace within the walls and the towers offered security.


In the ancient world strong walls for a city were of vital importance. It was so important that a city without walls was a place that was considered to be unsafe and even shameful for its members. While we cannot relate to that today, we can think of a place where we feel protected and peaceful.


In my early years I would equate a church or a house of worship to be such a place.

It was considered to be a sacred space. In today’s world, that’s not always the case.


The first time I went to worship in a place that practiced passing the peace I was reminded that as we walked in, we were celebrating the importance of peace and we were passing it on to others.


I remember as I watched congregants pass the peace it was not a ritual that was done out of habit. It was not taken lightly. People genuinely experienced peace and passed it to others.


I imagine that’s what David was thinking of when he wrote this psalm. He was speaking of the glory of peace inside the walls of the Holy City of Jerusalem. He genuinely declared it as a place of peace. David felt secure inside the city walls. He knew men in the towers kept a watchful eye on the city.

He knew the towers were situated in a way so those who kept watch day and night could see others coming from a distance. The men in the towers kept the city secure.


They gave the inhabitants within the walls peace.


In Matthew 5:9 when Jesus gave the blessing on the mountain to the crowds He knew having peace was a great blessing. He told them, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

Jesus knew peace is important.


It was important then and it’s ever so important over 2000 years later.


Today we live in an age of busy that is filled with hustle and bustle. It seems like noise is everywhere. Today even in rural and remote areas of the planet there are often loud pockets of noise. In this climate true peacemakers are rare in the modern world.


Watching the nightly news we are reminded daily of the absence of peace in our world.

Peace has become a most valuable commodity.


Feeling peaceful in our cities, towns, and homes is very rare in today’s world.


2 Corinthians 5:20 tells us, “We were sent to speak for Christ, and God is begging you to listen to our message. We speak for Christ and sincerely ask you to make peace with God.”


It’s almost as if the Apostle Paul wrote this verse for us today. For sure, Paul also lived in a time when peace was rare. During the second half of the first century, the Holy City of Jerusalem was occupied by the Roman armies and the Temple was destroyed. Jerusalem was left in shambles. They lost their walls.


The people of The Way (Christians) scattered outside the region to Europe, Africa, and to the ends of the earth (see Acts 1:8).


There was no peace. Because there was no peace the Christians scattered. When they scattered they took the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them to other parts of the globe. They passed the peace of Jesus on to other parts of the world.


When they passed the peace on to other parts of the globe they became interconnected.


Today when we pass the peace with each other we are interconnected with each other and God.

We get the idea that the early Christians were not of one accord from Paul’s writings. Paul asked them to be unified. In Ephesians 4:1-6 he urged them to, “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”


Today believers do not agree on everything, but we are called to love and be unified in the Spirit with peace as our bond.


Passing the peace is a timeless and gentle way to reconcile differences.


It gives us a chance to shake hands or hug (or even fist bump). I’m not sure if it’s even with Covid or especially because of Covid, passing the peace is important. Humans are communal by nature. We need contact.


Passing the peace is sacred. Practicing passing peace sets us apart and reminds us there is one body and one Spirit with one hope.


Today’s Spiritual Practice is: Pass the Peace


As you go about your daily life, whether you do it openly or silently, pass peace on.

In God, Deborah

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About Me

I am a child of God. I can’t remember when God wasn’t part of my life. I served in a church setting for 30+ years and now I seek to help others see and find their sacred space. Daily when we turn to God we begin to recognize where God is at work in our lives.

 

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