Peace of God

“Jesus doesn’t offer peace of mind. Instead, he offers the peace of reconciliation.”—Diane Roth, “Living the Word,” Christian Century, March 14, 2018, p. 23.

This response by Diane Roth to Lectionary Readings for the Second Sunday in Easter from John 20:19-31 is another wake-up call for us to reconcile with those with whom we are having difficulty. Jesus calls us to love that neighbor who is so different, and love our relatives who look at our political scene through a different pair of glasses. This also involves seeing Christ in the most unlovable person we work with, loving those whose belief systems are precisely opposite of ours. I could go on for several more pages of examples.

A verse that haunts me often said at the offertory is Matthew 5:23-24, “So when you offer your gift at the altar, if you remember your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first, be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.”

Family systems models tell us that we must make every effort to get back into a relationship with any family members from whom we are estranged.

The heart of 12 step recovery is looking at the resentments we have for others, seeing our part, causing the estrangement from others, making amends, seeing how we are alike instead of seeing our differences.

These teachings remind us that when we cannot love our neighbor, it is hard to love God, for the God of our understanding also lives in our neighbor, as does God live in us.

This is an important message for us to share with spiritual friends. We may not be the trained person to help our friends reconcile with those with whom they are having difficulty, but we are called to share our experience that reconciliation with our neighbor is a straight pathway to the peace of God.

Forgiveness and Reconciliation are at the heart of our pathways to our relationship with others and our God.

Joanna joannaseibert.com