Why do so many people rarely experience peace? What brings you peace? When is the last time you felt truly at peace? Describe a time you have been an instrument of peace.
Simeon held the 8 day old Jesus in his arms and prayed saying: “you now dismiss your servant in peace.” Jesus gives a peace that passes understanding that is vastly different than the peace that comes from things in the world. Ritual can bring us peace. Family can give us peace. A roof over our heads can give us peace. Money can give us peace. Researchers say that praying, even to various gods brings peace – the act of prayer itself. Nothing and no one gives the peace that Jesus gives. If you don’t know his peace, then you have no peace – not lasting deep abiding peace. The scripture is listed below as well as the prayer of peace. After reading through it all, please answer any of the questions above or leave further comments about your thoughts on peace!
On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived. When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord"), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons."
Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."
There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. Luke 2:21-38
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
when there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand,
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying [to ourselves] that we are born to eternal life.
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
when there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand,
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying [to ourselves] that we are born to eternal life.
--- Peace Prayer of St. Francis
From the Heart, Pastor Jeff
Well, once again I will pull from dictionary.com which says that peace is: 1. freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction, anxiety, an obsession, etc.; tranquillity; serenity.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I HATE to have things looming over me. In school it was tests, in college it was papers and now in ministry it is putting on a big event or preaching a sermon. Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE doing these things in ministry and nothing brings me greater joy than to have someone tell me that something I said has helped them in their walk, but the work that goes into one of those things is difficult. It's hard to relax and be completely free of worry when you have things looming over you. I think that in this day and age we are so consumed with "things" that it makes it difficult for most people to have those moments of peace. There always seems to be something looming.
For me, peace is being out in nature, away from the noise; so I guess that would mean silence and solitude. In North Carolina it was climbing and sitting in a tree overlooking a pond on my parents farm. In Idaho it is taking a walk through the woods at Cathedral Pines or ridding the ski lift at Pomerelle (only during night skiing). If I can find peace in a pond or a mountain covered with snow, I can only imagine the peace that Simeon felt when he held baby Jesus for the first time.
Furthering the discussion a little and adding to my theory about things looming over us. Imagine the feeling of peace that Jesus must have felt AFTER His work was done on the cross.