Today, the Second Sunday of Easter, the familiar story of the Disciple (“Doubting”) Thomas’ absence from the upper room is told in the Gospel of John. The room was locked; Jesus appears and stands in their midst and says: “Peace be with you.” I was thinking about how this story begins with Christs’ greeting, and I began to consider what true peace may mean.
In a general sense, peace is the absence of any conflict or chaos. On a personal level, it may mean many things: Peace may mean paying off this month's credit card bill or finishing that report for work. Peace may be arriving home after fighting rush hour traffic, or not fighting with your spouse or children for at least one night. Peace may be not hearing gunfire after dark, or having a whole night uninterrupted by a phone call of some bad news. Peace may mean a good report from the Doctor and lab. Peace is something that we desire for ourselves and should desire for others.
So what about peace with God? For some that may be a distant concept. Maybe we've never really tried to establish a personal relationship with God. Maybe some of us used to feel good about our standing with God, but now we're filled with doubt. Maybe we don't have the feeling we used to have, or sin has gotten in the way. You know: the big kind of sin that leaves us feeling guilty for years. Or maybe it's just a general disenchantment with God and being disappointed by Him time and again. Perhaps we've grown a bit cold—not turning our backs on God—but just drifting away from Him.
All or any of these things may steal our peace. I suggest that to overcome those kinds of feelings, we might try to take the focus off ourselves and turn outward to Godly work that needs to be done. We need to recognize that we aren't trying to earn our own salvation, but should focus on Jesus and what He has done for us as the example for our own “acts” as apostles. Peace with God comes through trusting in Jesus, trusting in His love and His care for us, and working for the Kingdom. When our faith led us to baptism, we entered into a relationship with Him that will provide us with the peace that God can give. It's not about us… it's about Jesus and what He did for us.
If you don't feel at peace with God, you may still be focused on yourself. There is plenty to do—work is a blessing—and can bring you peace. Step away from you and turn toward others in this field of souls. Through what you do, you might be the reason that others receive some peace here on earth. Jesus is there in the lives and faces of those around you as you do what He would do. It's time to trust in Him and His power to save. Peace be with you!
Keep singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
In a general sense, peace is the absence of any conflict or chaos. On a personal level, it may mean many things: Peace may mean paying off this month's credit card bill or finishing that report for work. Peace may be arriving home after fighting rush hour traffic, or not fighting with your spouse or children for at least one night. Peace may be not hearing gunfire after dark, or having a whole night uninterrupted by a phone call of some bad news. Peace may mean a good report from the Doctor and lab. Peace is something that we desire for ourselves and should desire for others.
So what about peace with God? For some that may be a distant concept. Maybe we've never really tried to establish a personal relationship with God. Maybe some of us used to feel good about our standing with God, but now we're filled with doubt. Maybe we don't have the feeling we used to have, or sin has gotten in the way. You know: the big kind of sin that leaves us feeling guilty for years. Or maybe it's just a general disenchantment with God and being disappointed by Him time and again. Perhaps we've grown a bit cold—not turning our backs on God—but just drifting away from Him.
All or any of these things may steal our peace. I suggest that to overcome those kinds of feelings, we might try to take the focus off ourselves and turn outward to Godly work that needs to be done. We need to recognize that we aren't trying to earn our own salvation, but should focus on Jesus and what He has done for us as the example for our own “acts” as apostles. Peace with God comes through trusting in Jesus, trusting in His love and His care for us, and working for the Kingdom. When our faith led us to baptism, we entered into a relationship with Him that will provide us with the peace that God can give. It's not about us… it's about Jesus and what He did for us.
If you don't feel at peace with God, you may still be focused on yourself. There is plenty to do—work is a blessing—and can bring you peace. Step away from you and turn toward others in this field of souls. Through what you do, you might be the reason that others receive some peace here on earth. Jesus is there in the lives and faces of those around you as you do what He would do. It's time to trust in Him and His power to save. Peace be with you!
Keep singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
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