Tuesday of the 5th Week of Eastertide
Acts 14:19-28 | Psalm 144(145):10-13a,21 | John 14:27-31
Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you,
a peace the world cannot give,
this is my gift to you. (John 14:27)
Such a precious gift it is, the peace of Christ. Freely given in love, limitless in scope.
Are we keeping it for ourselves, or sharing it with others?
Our local bus drivers seem to have been coached to greet passengers as they board, though some do this better than others.
Do we ignore them when they greet us, treating them like they don’t exist except as peons to serve our needs?
Or….
Do we greet them in return? Do we preempt them with a “Good morning!” from our hearts?
When we head out to lunch at the local food court, we often find the only unoccupied tables piled high with dirty plates and bowls. We behold tired cleaners struggling to keep up with the task at hand, while office workers ignore the “Please Clear Your Tables” signs and rush off after wolfing down their meals.
Do we imperiously beckon the nearest cleaner to work on our chosen table tout de suite? Do we then unload our meals from their trays, then proceed to dump prawn shells and meat bones all over the table?
Or…
Do we quietly clear the table ourselves, taking some care not to spill leftover gravy and soup? Do we eat carefully, dropping the inedible portions into our trays? Do we bus our trays after eating?
In short…
Do we suck peace from other people like spiritual vampires?
Or…
Do we give peace to others, enlivening them and easing their troubles just a little?
Lord, You shared Your merciful peace with Your disciples, and with us who are their spiritual brethren. Remind us always not to hoard that peace, but to share it with others in this troubled world, so that all may know the love and hope that flow from You. Amen.