The Peace of Christ

I am grateful for the experience of worshipping in places where I am a guest. When a total stranger greets me with the warm peace of Christ I am reminded of the power behind that gesture.

Passing the Peace is so different from saying "hello". It is a type of interaction that is unique to Christian Community. It has the capacity to transcend situations and cut through the limits of human familiarity. When we exchange the peace of Christ it smooths out the twists and turns of awkwardness. In cases where there has been some offense given or received, the peace of Christ draws us back into the spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation. The peace of Christ gathers us in...soothing our brows, easing our thoughts, calming our fears.

When we are sitting with somebody from our own household or church community, we may know specific details about their life story. We can enfold them in prayers for their peace and wholeness. Needless to say, there is immeasurable meaning and power in that!

But it is good to be reminded that this peace is given to us by God through Christ. It reaches deeper and broader than any of us can possibly comprehend. When you "pass the peace" you participate in transcendent mystery and you offer to the "other" much more than you can begin to imagine.