A Homily given by Fr. Ben Jones,
For St. George’s Anglican Church, Raleigh, NC;
On the First Sunday after Easter,
commonly called Low Sunday; A.D. 2010.
“Of or With??”
+ In the name of God the Father, and of God the Son, and of God the Holy Ghost, Amen.
St. John 20:21.
“Then said Jesus to them again, peace be unto you:.”
In today’s gospel lesson, we hear Jesus say twice, “Peace be unto you”.1 We will come to see the difference between the two, with the first being a greeting of calm, and the second being a very special relationship. If we look up “peace” in the dictionary we find the following secular definition; “A state of tranquility, a state free from civil disturbance or war, a state being free of oppressive or unpleasant thoughts and/or emotions, a condition or a sense of harmony, well being, and prosperity”.2 When we talk of “peace” in a sacred connotation, it takes on a completely different meaning, or maybe in this case it is better to say that peace takes us as Christians to a new level of existence; the existence of being in a very special relationship or communion with God through our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Let’s explore this “Peace with God” as it relates to the Church.
Even “the peace of the Lord” has been transformed anew by the New Covenant. The phrase, “Peace be unto you,” or possibly translated in a better way to read, “Peace be with you” has a new meaning because Christ has made peace with His Father for us by His passion or His sacrifice. For us as Christians, being justified by faith, we now have this peace WITH God. Prior to the resurrection, (in the time of the Old Covenant), “Peace” was not a negative or a passive concept as we have seen from the secular definition, but involved wholeness or completeness with our neighbors for the most part.
There are instances through out the Old Testament where we read about “Covenants of Peace” between individuals, and “Covenants or Treaties of Peace” between nations. In general terms these covenants and treaties meant that both parties promised to refrain from being hostile to each other, and furthermore would seek the other’s welfare, including a pledge of aid if the covenant or treaty partner would be attacked. This simply meant to be at peace with your family, to be at peace with your neighbor, to be at peace with your community or town, and to be at peace with other nations. The phrase used commonly in departure, “go in peace”, meant to go with an assurance of friendship and favor. This “peace” was expressed by Jethro to Moses. “And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.”3 It is not surprising that the Hebrew term “shalom”, a traditional Jewish greeting or farewell, which means peace, well-being, hello or good bye, is used some one hundred and eighty times through out the Old Testament and is often associated with the “Davidic Covenant”, as well as prophetic promises of a coming “Messianic Kingdom”. Amidst this meaning, there was Old Testament prophecy of the coming “Covenant of Peace” with God’s chosen people which would involve the assurance of an enduring relationship with the One who would become their “peace”, a pledge to protect their welfare, and to abundantly bless them by His divine grace, wisdom, and power. In the Book of the Prophet Malachi we hear, “My covenant was with him of life and peace”.4 Malachi was foretelling of a new covenant that would embrace regeneration and salvation. That is all well and good, but who would usher in this new covenant?? Here is the answer. In the Book of the Prophet Isaiah we hear, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace”.5 “The Prince of Peace.” What about this “peace” under the new covenant that King Solomon spoke of when he proclaimed; “There shall be peace for ever from the Lord”6
Considering peace under the new covenant, the opening phrase of the Blessing at the conclusion of the Mass comes to mind; “The peace of God which passeth all understanding.”7 This tells me of an abundance of the peace of God that we can never fathom; much less ever understand in this world, because the world cannot redeem sinful man. St. Paul tells us in his Epistle to the Romans, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace WITH God through our Lord Jesus Christ”.8 St. Paul is telling us that this peace is “peace WITH God” and not the “peace OF God”. This “peace WITH God” is a state of peace and not a feeling of peace. You see, between the sinner and God there exist a barrier. Sinners cannot be reconciled to God until this “state of peace” is declared. By our being justified by Faith, we now have, if you will, that “Covenant of Peace” with God through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Christ is our Mediator. As our Mediator, Christ has worked out our “Covenant of Peace” with God. And here is the key. Since Christ made this “Covenant of Peace” through His blood, He is our peace with God. Let’s see what St. Paul had to say about this “peace WITH God” in his Epistle to the Ephesians.
St. Paul has clearly defined the differences between the peace in the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. “At that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain on new man, so making peace; And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came preaching peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” So what does St. Paul’s teaching mean for us?
St. Paul is telling us that “at a time being without Christ” in reference to a time before our salvation experience or our conversion, we were without rest, we were without hope, we were without life and light, we were without salvation, thus being without peace, and we were without a home, not having any claim or involvement in the Messianic promises.
By the “Passion of Christ” we are heirs through hope because of the possibility of a new relationship established for us in the “New Covenant” sealed with the sacrificial blood of Christ; who “hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God”.9 Christ’s passion was meant for all. There is no longer any prejudice among cultures. God’s purpose is one new people. Christ is the worlds only hope, our peace. He puts an end to the hostility between God and man, and within mankind. We are all united in one body, the Church, which is Christ’s spiritual body. This makes it possible that through Christ all who turn to Christ and accept Him as Lord and Saviour can “come boldly to His throne of glory that we may obtain mercy”.10 What is our part in this “peace with God”?
We now have the opportunity to become grafted into the spiritual body of Christ, His Church. We have to take that conscious, deliberate step. We make the decision for Christ to dwell in our hearts by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. By our decision, we now take on a new life in that Christ is our peace, that we might have peace WITH God. You see, through the “Passion of Christ”, Christ has become that Mediator between us and God. The promise of the New Covenant has been fulfilled. So is this it?? Is this where we stop?? Well, not for those of us who want to become part of that faithful remnant. This is just the beginning. We give thanks to God for His gift to us, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and follow the example of the Prophet Isaiah. Remember that after the Seraphim touched Isaiah’s lips with the live coal, and his iniquity was taken away and his sins purged, he was asked by the voice of the Lord whom shall I send, and who will go for us. Isaiah answered, Here I am; send me. So when we approach God’s Throne of Grace to receive the most precious Body and Blood of His Son, we boldly proclaim, “My Lord and my God, here I am; send me according to Thy Will”. We can rest assured that God will use us and our several abilities to His Will, and will come to dwell with Him in the life to come, because we have and are part of that “Peace with God”.
AMEN.
+
“AND NOW UNTO GOD THE FATHER,
GOD THE SON, AND,
GOD THE HOLY GHOST;
BE ASCRIBED ALL MIGHT, MAJESTY,
POWER, AND DOMINION,
MOST JUSTLY DUE THIS DAY,
BOTH NOW, AND FOREVER,
WORLD WITHOUT END.
AMEN.”
1 The Gospel according to St. John 20:19, 21.
2 Wikionary; Peace.
3 The Book of Exodus 4:18.
4 The Book of the Prophet Malachi 5:2a.
5 The Book of the Prophet Isaiah 9:6.
6 The First Book of Kings 2:33b.
7 BCP, ’28 ed., pg. 84.
8 St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans 5:1.
9 The First Epistle General of St. Peter 3:18.
10 The Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews 4:16.