Monday meditation: ‘Peace on earth’ can be our experience anytime
“Peace on Earth” is the banner above many Christmas decorations, not Easter. Yet as we try to make sense of a war-torn world, a conflict-riddled culture, and a stress-filled life, no word could mean more today than peace.
We do well to remember that not only did the angels proclaim peace at the time of his birth, but Jesus promised peace just before his death. “Peace I leave with you,” he assured his disciples and added, “Not as the world gives do I give to you.” Later, after his crucifixion, when he appeared to his disciples huddled in hiding and trying to understand stories of his resurrection, Jesus appeared miraculously before them and said, “Peace.”
There was nothing they needed more. Imagine the whiplash of their emotions in the previous few days—from panic to grief to befuddlement and then to a burning hope for something too fantastic to believe.
Jesus was alive! And he greeted them with peace.
Perhaps we can imagine the caregiver’s conflicting emotions in the last few days, too. A hubbub of holiday preparations, completed with little or less help from the one whose capacity to help is diminished. Happy gatherings with family and friends interrupted by accommodations for this one who’s suffering. Celebration of new life tinged with sadness at the life deteriorating before their eyes.
Perhaps we can look at today’s Bible art, with Jesus matter-of-factly showing the astonished disciples his wounds and find comfort. Perhaps, in the quiet of this day after Easter, we can believe that the promise of the resurrection is for more than one weekend.
Perhaps we can remember not only Jesus’ promise of peace and greeting of peace, but also the apostle’s formula for finding peace:
“. . . do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Sometimes it’s hard to understand how peace can be possible in our unpredictable lives. But today we can imagine Jesus in the room with us, assuring us that the troubles of this world need not be the essence of our experience in this world. We can celebrate the resurrected Christ once more, we can lay our needs before him, and we can experience at least one day’s measure of what we may need most.
Peace.
Read: Luke 24:35-49
Pray: We’re amazed, Heavenly Father, that you care enough about each of us to offer us peace. Today we’ll lay before you every problem, every troubling issue, each niggling concern, and we’ll claim your promise. Sometimes our lives seem like a windswept island in a sea of uncertainty. Lord, give us peace.
Illustration copyright Classic Bible Art. All rights reserved. Click here for a list of events where you can see Classic Bible Art on display this year. For more information about securing a library of this beautiful art for yourself, see here or here. Some art in this series is available for you to license at Goodsalt.com.