Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.

Matthew 5:9

At church this weekend Rebekah and I participated in the traditional “Passing of the Peace” ritual, where we pause between worship elements to stand, move around from our rooted locations, shake hands, make actual eye contact, and share variations on the following litany:

• “The peace of Christ be with you.”
• “And also with you.”

Pastor Mac invited us to linger a little longer on the exchange, to engage with more people than is usual, and to cover a little more ground.

This is a sacred moment. This is what church is all about. “Let’s face it,” Mac observed, “this is not something that is going to be happening all that much out there (he gestured beyond the tall windows).”

A graceless age:

He’s got that right! What’s being passed around in the world at large is not so much peace as it is gracelessness, conflict, anger, insults, opposition, condemnation, judgement, disharmony, and all the negative baggage that goes with it.

But the simple practice of offering peace and encouragement to those we interact with on a day-to-day basis has the potential to be a game-changer in the world at large.

The simple practice of offering peace and encouragement to those we interact with on a day-to-day basis has the potential to be a game-changer in the world at large.

This is something Rebekah and I have been committed to for many years. We introduce ourselves, we ask people their names, we try to give them encouragement. “Great to meet you!” we will say to a waiter at dinner. “I am Rebekah; I am Derek. What is your name?” And then we use their actual name and add peace and encouragement and positive energy to their life with every interaction.

A few days ago, medical tansport came to pick up my mum at Wake Med and take her to Hospice. “Thanks so much for coming,” I said. “My name is Derek. What are your names? Great to meet you Steve. Great to meet you, Mattie.”

We have interactions with all sorts of people and we can – in every possible way – be people of faith who are being very intentional when it comes to literally passing the peace.

Again, and this is a concept I never tire of sharing, “tell the truth about the Gospel of Love simply by being.” Tell the eloquent truth of God’s love by loving with eloquence and living with grace.

Or, as Paul said, “Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing.”

This is the gospel, the good news, the story of love entering the world and offering peace; this is God’s invitation through Jesus, this is Christ’s invitation through you.
One: May the peace of Christ be with you.
Many: And also with you.
(Please stand and offer a sign of Christ’s peace to those around you)