“Peace I leave with you,” Jesus said, “my peace I give to you.” In the Scriptures, like here in John 14, for example, peace is always much more than a cessation of hostilities. It is a “right relationship” with God, with ourselves, and with others. Importantly, though, there is no peace if there is no peace with God. Yet, how often do we settle for less, calling it peace? Could it be possible that because we are not actually fighting, we are at peace?
Related to this, have you ever heard someone say that “war has broken out,” implying it was always there, dormant, within us, just waiting to cross over into action? Why do we not talk about “peace breaking out?” Maybe because it can only break out if it is first within us. But it is! “Peace I leave with you,” Jesus said, “my peace I give to you.” He is our peace. We have already received this precious gift from Him. What are we doing to foster it, spread it, and unleash it in a positive and healing way in our world today?
Today’s prayer is provided by the salutation which our Jewish ancestors were told to use in order to greet and bless one another with God’s peace: “Thus you shall bless the Israelites: you shall say to them, ‘The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” (Numbers 6, 22-26) This remains a wonderful blessing, worth learning by heart, and worth sharing each day.
