Thoughts for the Day

Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.

Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people,
to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.
Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him,
that his glory may dwell in our land.

Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
and righteousness will look down from the sky.
The Lord will give what is good,
and our land will yield its increase.
Righteousness will go before him,
and will make a path for his steps.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

What is peace? Is it the absence of war or an argument? No it's much, much more. Many churches celebrate 'The Peace' at the Eucharist (called the 'Lord's Supper', 'Communion Service' or 'Mass' depending on your church), and indeed it's one of the oldest parts of our worship. It's also used across the world as a term of greeting, and of farewell, in the Hebrew phrase "Shalom" (שָׁלוֹם). It has a much deeper meaning than the absence of war! 'Peace' here actually means harmony, wholeness, completeness, and tranquillity. The earliest Christians included a "kiss of peace" in their worship, and when we copy them at our Eucharist, either with a handshake or a kiss or even a wave (since covid) we are passing God's peace onto the other person. We are in effect saying "May God's peace - His wholeness, His harmony, His tranquillity, be with you".

The most amazing things about Psalm 85, is that the writer foretells that God will 'speak peace to his people', and if we know one thing from our Bible it is that when God 'speaks', His Word actually creates something. The psalmist says God will offer salvation to His people, and with it will come wholeness for all who have faith. Just as you know that the sun will arise tomorrow, even if you cannot see it because of the clouds, so we are to have complete confidence that God will speak peace to His faithful people.

Lord God Almighty,
Who called Abraham,
the Prophets and the writers
of the scriptures to speak truth
to Your people,
and who sent Your Son to call
all who heard Him to repentance,
so we ask that You will
speak peace to us Your people, this day.
In a world that is broken and fractured,
we need Your healing power.
Amen.