Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter

May 20, 2003

How often in the Liturgy when the priest invites us to exchange the sign of peace, we say things like; have a good day; Peace; or we just shake hands, hug one another, or don’t do anything.

The peace that the world gives is fast-talking, mind bending, slap on the back, step right up and come on down. This is the kind of peace that you can buy off the shelf or bid as the price is right. And sometimes you see people come on down as if they really were in Bob Barker’s circus.

What is this peace that the liturgy invites us to share immediately before communion?

It begins with the prayer: Lord Jesus you said to apostles, I leave you peace, my peace I give to you. Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your church.

This peace which Jesus calls us to is not a greeting like we might give at the beginning or the end of Mass. This peace, which God alone can give, is associated with sin and faith.

It is the gift of the Holy Spirit, which opens us to see the reality of sin, instead of ignorance, to acknowledge the existence of sin, instead of denial; and to participate in the healing of the one Body of faith, which we are about to receive and become. Sin is diabolic, it literally blows apart, smashes to pieces, while faith and peace are symbolic; drawing together into the fabric of God’s divine being.

That’s exactly what the Holy Spirit does when we let go of sin and let God. People all over the world are hungering for this peace, whether they know where to find it or not. The most ironic thing is, you can have it by simply making a little room. Clear up a little space from all that worldly stuff. I didn’t say give it all up. I said, just a little. But you I find very quickly that the little bit of space will grow, and you’ll be replacing His peace for the worldly peace you clung to so preciously.

Try it. You’ll like it.