Great is the mystery of Faith 4: Peace be with you
This is the fourth in our occasional series on the Liturgy, entitled: ‘Peace be with you’.
Grace and peace be given to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Some of you, like me, will remember the controversy surrounding the exchange of the Peace, when the new services came in. Some congregations welcomed this – others were less convinced and didn’t see the need.
In a way, this wasn’t surprising. Confirmation preparation prior to the introduction of the new services often stressed that Holy Communion was about the individual’s relationship with God. Sometimes, they were even told to ignore who else was in church, and to concentrate on their own spiritual business. I remember as a child, never seeing the face of the person in front of me – but I knew the back of her coat and her various hats extremely well! With this understanding, you can appreciate that the Peace would come as an unwelcome interruption to their meditations.
But sharing the peace is a very ancient tradition in Christian circles – Paul writes to the church in Rome: ‘Greet one another with a holy kiss’. Peter writes: ‘Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ’. (in those days, it was culturally acceptable for men and women to greet one another with a kiss – including two men – it was the equivalent of a handshake)
In 150AD, Justin Martyr’ says of their congregation: ‘When we have ended the prayers (that is, before the table is prepared and the bread and wine are offered) we greet one another with a kiss’.
There is also the link to the Eucharist: in Matt 5.23-24, Jesus tells the disciples it is pointless to offer a sacrifice in the Temple in
the hope of putting oneself in a right relationship with God, if there is a human relationship that needs putting right first. ‘When you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there, before the altar and go – first be reconciled to your brother’.
So when in the 1960s, liturgists from across the denominational spectrum looked at revising the services – this included the Roman Catholics, Anglican and Free churches, they looked at the old patterns of worship. Many of our so called ‘modern’ services hark back to an older tradition than the 1662 prayer book, which in a way was slightly aberrant, because of the violent context in which it was conceived. That is why, if you visit other denominations, even in other countries, where you may not understand the language, you will be able to follow the format of the service – they all go back to their roots.
So when we say, ‘we don’t like the peace, we find it difficult, awkward and embarrassing, we’re English after all!’ – actually, we’re wrong.
Us English did share the peace – even after the Reformation. It was only after the second prayer book in 1552 that the practice was dropped. But not completely. It’s there in the Prayer Book exhortation: ‘Ye that do truly and earnestly repent you of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbours, and intend to lead a new life... draw near with faith, and take this holy Sacrament to your comfort.’
So, what’s the big deal? What are we doing when we are sharing the peace, and why is it different to the meeting and greeting we do at the beginning and end of our services?
Sharing the peace is a symbolic way of putting our faith into action. How we share it, says a great deal about us as individuals, and us as a congregation.
Inclusivity
We are one body – we include everyone in the peace, not just our family and close friends. That is why it is important – no essential – to share the peace with those we don’t know so well, especially those who are new to the congregation, and may be feeling a bit left out. (having said that – don’t all make a bee-line and form a scrum around the poor individual who has ventured through the door for the first time, and is finding their way – but at the same time, make sure that someone is doing so – don’t rely on just the wardens or the vicar to do it.
This symbolises our one-ness in Christ, even though we might have diverse interests, or even differences in personality or theology, which would mean that outside the church we would have little in common. As Christians, we are one body. We need one another. Jesus says: ‘be on your guard, keep watch’ In a city, not everyone needed to be a watchman. In a group of animals, be they sheep, cows, meercats or lions, there will be one member of the group who acts as look-out. We need one another to remain strong as
Christians. The Peace acknowledges notonly our one-ness, but our need for one another. 1 Corinthians 12 puts this in an amusing
way: "Certainly the body isn’t one part but many. If the foot says, “I’m not part of the body because I’m not a hand,” does that mean
it’s not part of the body? 16 If the ear says, “I’m not part of the body because I’m not an eye,” does that mean it’s not part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, what would happen to the hearing? And if the whole body were an ear, what would happen to the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God has placed each one of the parts in the body just like he wanted. 19 If all were one and the same body part, what would happen to the body?
Reconciliation
Christ has reconciled us into one body. Sometimes, its not just our diversity that is the problem. We are human. We can fall out with one another. The peace means that we have to recongise that each person is made in the image of Christ, someone whom God loves and for whom Jesus died. As such, we are commanded to love them. This goes far beyond how we might feel. Godly love, Agape, is to aspire to value that person as God values them, and for God’s sake. ‘To live in that kind of love is to live in God’ 1 John4.6)
This can be very challenging. It sometimes takes courage to go to someone at the Peace and hold out a hand, if there has been some offence caused. But it can be the first contact that leads to a fuller mending of a relationship. It can be the vital step towards saying, ‘let’s try again’.
St Paul starts his letter to the Corinthians by saying: Grace and peace be given to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
There is a reason for this: the very next verse to the ones we’ve read says: I appeal to you, my friends, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, agree among yourselves and avoid divisions; let there be complete unity of mind and thought. (Paul has heard that there are quarrels about who is the best church leader –who do they follow – should be following Jesus, and him crucified. He is exhorting them to be ‘in love and charity with your neighbours’.
Earlier in the service, we have confessed our sins and received forgiveness from God. We have been put right with God, and now through sharing the peace, we ensure that we are put right with our neighbours.
Our neighbours, the people we are struggling with, may not be in our church this morning. But in the peace, we can bring those broken relationships to God, and ask for healing and reconciliation to begin. In other words, we can mentally ‘leave our gift at the altar, and proclaim in our hearts peace towards those with whom we struggle. And this is why we share the peace just prior to the Holy Communion, and incidentally, also before we bring our ‘gifts to the altar’ during the offertory hymn.
Respect
The peace gives people notice and respect. We encounter one another as equals before our heavenly Father. Sometimes when we give the peace, I’ve noticed that as we are shaking hands with one person, we are already looking ahead to the next person. The words from our mouths say ‘peace be with you’, but our body language is saying ‘must get on – can’t stop.’ Take time with one another – even if you don’t end up greeting everyone – take time to look at one another when you are sharing the peace, and recognise Christ in one another.
Distinctiveness
The peace is not there to catch up on news or just hello, how are you? It’d deeper than that. We can use any gesture we like – as long as you and the other person find it appropriate. (we’re mainly English here, so a handshake is what we do best, but sometimes, a quick hug is needed, or for some, who find the whole thing overwhelming, a warm non physical greeting). So be sensitive to one another.
The Peace of the Lord
The Peace we share is the peace of the Lord. It mirrors the deep relational nature of the trinity – the love that flows between Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus is called: Jeshua, Sar Shalom - Prince of Peace. Jews and Muslims have a word for peace that conveys a deeper meaning – Shalom or Salaam. Shalom is a kind of a doing word – it means to be complete, perfect and full. By sharing ‘the Peace of the Lord, we are conveying a really powerful blessing on one another.
When we share the peace, we are saying to one another: May you be whole, complete, healthy, safe and in harmony with yourself and others, as well as peace. That is why it is important not to rush it. That is why it is important to share it with those whom we don’t know quite as well, as well as those with whom we are closest. That is why it is important to share the peace with those whom we find difficult.
Incidentally That is why I often use what is known as the Aaronic blessing, (also used by St Francis just before he died to his closest companion, Leo), at our Holy Communion.
I will end my sermon by using it: The LORD bless you and keep you. The LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The LORD lift up His face upon you and give you SHALOM.