Peace Be With You

While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, ‘Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.’ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence. Then he said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’ Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God. Luke 24:36-53

There are places we can each find peace and people who help us find peace. In this day and age peace is often hard to find. And places of peace are often overrun by people desperate to have a vacation experience, so they go big and go loud. Peace for me is often found in the out of the way, hard to get places. Desolate places where I can hear the bird song and listen to the lapping of the water. And peace can also be found for me in laughter, of my friends, my family, my colleagues. We live in an agitated and agitating world, and yet Jesus in present in all our chaos and confusion.

Peaceful Creator, you breathe on us life

you sing us into being and help us grow

your hand rests on each and every shoulder

and your love is a large embrace for us all.

We struggle with one another every day

trying to find peace but not making peace

we do not seek peace but dominance

and we ache for peace when we are alone.

Gracious Savoir, breathe your peace on us

fill us with the capacity to always reach out

empowering us to repair the broken hearts

and give us your loving peace today. Amen.