More Than Peace

At each mass or communion service,  we hear, "Let us offer each other the sign of peace,"  and share "Peace be with you."  Important words especially when said with love.  They are part of our celebration but how many really take this action to heart and know what it truly means.  

Depending on what generation you are from defines the picture of peace you hold.  It may just be a greeting, you heard it in movies or on the street, "Peace, man" or even given nonchalantly "Peace" with fingers in a "V".

Peace to many may be an absence of war for which we all pray.  But even though we have friends and family who may be in harms way and we are devastated by the loss of life.  Peace does mean the same to those in the violence as those who see it from a distance.

At the War Veteran's home there is a mass on the first Friday of the month.  My community shares our peace with these brave people.  At this sharing of peace, I heard the story of one man who was held as a POW in Korea.  It was told by his wife.  He never spoke in detail about it.  She did know that he was confined in a small metal box, cramped, not able to move his body other than just a small bit.  The North Korean guards would be beat on metal box with pipes and batons for hours a day.  

What is peace to this man?

The word that Jesus used for peace was "Shalom."  Shalom means peace, but not just the end of war or violence.  It means something deeper.  Shalom means completion and perfection.  If you wished someone peace/shalom you wished to them a life of fulfillment, abundance for all of their needs, or prosperity.  It was not just a passing saying but a term of commitment to make that person live in shalom.  

When Jesus said "I bring you peace", it was a commitment.  But it was not a commitment of this world when Jesus said "do not let your hearts be troubled, or afraid."  It was a promise of so much more than worldly peace. 

When we extend the sign of peace are we making a commitment or is it just a word, a gesture that is part of the action of mass?  Every action, movement, or purpose of the Liturgy has a sacramental meaning.  From when we kneel, to when we stand, the response, the candles, the altar, everything means something.  Everything in the liturgy is the shalom, the sign of peace, the commitment to each other and to God.  

Let us go back to the War Veterans home.  We have the mass with several residents, their friends, and family.  Our former POW friend is again a prisoner.  This time a prisoner in his own body, unable to move, confined to a gurney.  Instead of the torture of the guards, we bring him the sign of peace, the recognition of him as a person, and the acknowledgement that he is still a man.  Our small mass is peace/shalom to him and every other resident there if they attend or not.  

The sign of peace is not just a sign of peace to the person next to us.  It is a sign of fulfillment of God's promise.  It is the message of the good news that we are to bring to the world.  Our peace is a sign of commitment to ourselves, our neighbors, our community, and the world.  A commitment that we make with that handshake, that smile, and eye contact.  In these little things that we share with each other we then bring this peace to to the world.

Pope Francis recently stated that not everyone is called to a clerical life and not all are called to do the work of Christ  in the church building.  Laypeople are ministers to the world by our baptism.  This is how each of us is called to do the work of Christ in our families, our workplace, our community, and the world.  Sharing the peace of Christ is done by visiting the nursing home, visiting the hospital, praying for those who need our prayers, and reaching out to those in need.  We imitate Christ in our daily walk, sharing the peace/shalom with those we meet in lives.   

To wish another peace/shalom is a commitment.  A promise to do all we can to let those around us live in the fulfillment and prosperity of peace. Let the peace we share today be a commitment to those around us.   

Happy Independence Day!!