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Peace on ANZAC Day “Peace be with you.” Peace? The absence of war? We read these words of Jesus with a degree of irony in the context of today being the day after ANZAC day. We have already had the moving experience of remembering those New Zealanders who were killed in wars and of honouring our returned service men and women. In the 95 years since the outbreak of World War 1 in 1914, humanity has been afflicted by a seemingly endless and horrifying sequence of wars, conflicts, genocides and "ethnic cleansings" which have caused unspeakable suffering to countless victims, families and countries. These wars have destroyed lives, created an ocean of refugees and have been responsible for misery, hunger, disease and for the loss of immense resources. In the last 95 years we have seen emerging ideologies of power in the shape of totalitarianism, nationalism, tribalism, to mention only some of the ‘isms’ that George Coughlin distrusted so much and we can all see why. They have led to brutal and systematic violence, which has been visited on entire peoples and regions. All too often these trends have had to be countered by armed resistance and we are so very grateful to the countless men and women who have self sacrificially stepped forward and defended human rights, and helped to defeat the various forms of oppression that have caused these conflicts. They have fought for justice and yes for Peace. Yet these past 95 years have taught us that Wars generally do not resolve the problems for which they are fought and all too often generate bitterness that leads to more wars. Our experience in our time has been that War in itself cannot bring victory over injustice and cannot bring lasting peace. And it was no different in Jesus’ time. As Jesus uttered those words ‘Peace be with you” to his disciples he did so against the backdrop of Roman occupation and the political oppression of his people who were so miserable and so desperate for a political liberator that at Jesus’ trial they choose to have him, an innocent man, condemned to death, in favour of Barrabas a political agitator who opposed the Romans. What then did Jesus mean when he offered them peace? Perhaps he was referring to the personal circumstances of his disciples. And yet we know that their personal circumstances were hardly a peaceful either. They were grieving at his death, fearful of their own safety and at loggerheads with each other over who was to blame for the tragedy that had befallen them and what this might mean for them. Lots and lots to worry about. These days too, most of us who follow Jesus have much to worry over. Most of us have difficulties and inner conflicts and relationship issues that seem to make the circumstances of our lives everything but peaceful. So what does Jesus mean when he utters these first words to his disciples after his resurrection: ‘Peace be with you’? 'Peace' is a word which looms large in the Christian vocabulary. - It occurs 88 times in the New Testament which is sometimes referred to as the Book of Peace. - The Epistles of the New Testament all begin and end with a prayer for peace. - Jesus frequently makes reference to peace. - In the Gloria we say or sing ‘Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth’; - In sharing of the peace we say: Peace be with you; - At the consecration of the bread we say “Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace; - In the blessing there is reference to peace. For example the ancient Irish blessing says Deep peace of the risen Christ to you! and at the dismissal we sometimes say: ‘Go in the peace of Christ’. - When people receive sacrament of Confession, the priest prays for the penitent: ... may God give you pardon and peace... - When we pray for the dead we say: May they rest in peace. The concept of peace is very much a part of our Christian theology. What do we mean when we make all these references to peace in the practice of our faith? As is the case with many of the words and phrases, it is quite possible for us to go on uttering this word 'peace', day in and day out, without ever pausing to reflect on what it actually means! I think we will all concede that peace is more than the absence or cessation of war or conflict. The dictionary definition of peace is clear enough: 'quiet; tranquillity; mental calm; serenity; freedom from disturbance; a calm state that produces happiness; the contentment that comes from being in right relationship with others and with self...' So, we know what it means. We all want it. But how do we get it? is the question. How in the context of the economic downturn, given the challenges of illness; broken relationships; concerns for our children; concerns for the future of the planet, you name it. How do we find the peace that Jesus extends to his disciples and which we so frequently reference in our church services? The peace of Christ, as he himself tells us, is not just peace as the world gives or understands it, for it does not depend on what is happening in the world for us to have it. When Jesus says to his disciples peace be with you he is effectively saying to them: ‘All is well, not because of what is happening in your world, but because I am in control of every situation. In spite of what you might be thinking and worrying and fretting over, all is well because I am in control. I have risen from the dead and because I have risen from the dead I have conquered death and am thereby showing you that there is nothing on earth that you may encounter, no sin nor deathly experience that I do not have the power to manage and I will gift this power to you. You may have my Spirit which will reside within you and be with you and will never leave you. So no matter what you are experiencing because I am with you, you are safe. Through the tumult, the trials and the storms of this life, you need not worry, I am with you and so you will be at peace. The key to experiencing the peace that Jesus offers is to accept: - that He loves us with the same unconditional love that he loved those first disciples. This love draws us into an ever closer and deeper communion with God. - That he has the power to conquer all manifestations of sin and death and evil. - that because God is the author of love and Jesus is the incarnation of that love, he will work all things for the good of those who accept him as their Lord and Saviour. And then to kneel before him as Mary did and as Thomas did and in the face of his living and resurrected presence and to invite him to be Lord and Saviour of your life. This is exactly what salvation offers. It offers peace. The child of God - who has opened his or her heart to the Love that Jesus offers, - who chooses to walk in the way that he shows us and - who accepts the power of his Holy Spirit to transform, strengthen, encourage and negotiate all the storms of life, receives the peace of Christ . That calmness, joy, serenity and stillness that comes from trusting in his power to liberate and to bring life and love and joy into all our life’s circumstances no matter what pain or suffering or crisis we may be experiencing in our lives. Christ’s peace does not grant us immunity from pain and suffering, or even death. It enables us to face all these painful realities with a wonderful peace which comes from knowing that because Jesus is Lord of our Lives, because we have accepted the risen Lord as our Saviour nothing can ultimately harm us for we as the children of God are protected by his power and love. If you have taken the step of making Jesus Lord of your life, you will know what I am talking about. You will know the peace that comes when we entrust our lives to him. If you have not yet taken that step to make Jesus lord of your life, perhaps you might like to do so silently right now in your hearts and his word promises you that no matter what you are going through, you will receive a peace that will fill your heart and that comes from trusting him. Let us pray: Gracious God we are reminded again that you offer us peace. Forgive us for our forgetfulness of this fact. Help us all to accept your peace which comes with the blessed assurance that because you are lord of our lives and because you care deeply for us all will be well no matter what we are experiencing at this time of our lives. Through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. |
