April 29, 2009
Let the peace of Christ also rule in your hearts,
to which you were called in one body, and be thankful.
God to enfold me,
God to surround me,
God in my speaking
God in my thinking
God in my sleeping,
God in my waking
God in my watching
God in my hoping
God in my life,
God in my lips,
God in my soul,
God in my heart.
God in my sufficing,
God in my slumber,
God in mine ever-living soul,
God in my eternity.
During the Easter Season, we hear the post-resurrection stories of Jesus’ appearances to his disciples. He appears to them in a group in the upper room, and again the following week to Thomas; he appears to those who are traveling the road to Emmaus, and opens the scriptures to them, and then appears to his disciples again, asking if they have anything to eat! And he appears by the seaside, helps them with their harvest of fish, and eats breakfast with them.
In many of these stories, Jesus greets his disciples with "Peace be with you." It is no wonder that these are his first words! Imagine what it would be like to be going about your business, to be interrupted by the figure of your Savior, standing in the room with you! He pointed out several times that he was not an apparition, but was indeed flesh and blood, and acted in ways that flesh and blood would act: he had the disciples touch him, he showed them his hands, his feet, and his side, and he ate with them.
But Jesus knew that his appearance would cause fear, and so he spoke the reassuring words of peace. "Calm yourself. Its okay. Just Breathe. I’m real, see?"
While there are numerous stories of heavenly visions coming to different person throughout time, the chances of one of us seeing the risen Christ standing in the room with us is slim. Yet, one of Christ’s name is Emmanuel, God with Us. Christ came to dwell with us, to be steeped in the needs and troubles of humanity. And he has promised to never leave or forsake us. We may not see him standing in the room, but he is with us all the time. His presence is real, even though it is unseen. In the midst of the things that terrify us, or worry us, or confuse us, he is there, speaking those words of comfort, "Peace be with You."
The Lord of the empty tomb,
The conqueror of gloom, come to you.
The Lord in the garden walking,
The Lord to Mary talking, come to you.
The Lord in the upper room,
Dispelling fear and doom, come to you.
The Lord on the road to Emmaus,
The lord giving hope to Thomas, come to you.
The lord appearing on the shore,
Giving life for evermore, come to you.
There will be no "Pax" next week. I will be traveling tomorrow to California to be with my parents who have been ill. The Pax will return on May 13th. Blessings to all, Loree+
For those on our prayer list:
For Matt Rogers our Postulant
Peace
The peace of God, the peace of men,
The peace of Columba kindly,
The peace of Mary mild, the loving,
The peace of Christ, King of tenderness
The peace of Christ, King of tenderness
Be upon each window, upon each door
Upon each hole that lets in light
Upon the four corners of my house,
Upon the four corners of my bed,
Upon the four corners of my bed;
Upon each thing my eye takes in,
Upon each thing my mouth takes in,
Upon my body that is of earth
And upon my soul that came from on high,
Upon my body that is of earth
And upon my soul that came from on high.
Pax et Bonum,
Loree+
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