Passing the peace
by Pastor Reid Matthias
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‘When you enter a house, first say, “Peace to this house”. If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them. If not, it will return to you’ (Luke 10:5,6).
Read Luke 10:1-17
Before COVID-19, there was a part of the service I called ‘The Introvert’s Worst Recurring Dream’. In church terms, the bulletin read … PASSING THE PEACE.
Typically, extroverts would turn en masse to the nearest people and shake hands or (worst case scenario) open their arms for a hug. This ‘passing of the peace’ would last for agonising minutes – lots of ‘Hello’s’ and ‘How are ya’s’, maybe a recap of the week, and finally – mercifully – the pastor would jovially proclaim, ‘All right, you can all go back to your seats now’.
I sometimes wondered what the point was. What was ‘passing the peace’?
In our scripture today, Jesus sends out 72 willing, able, and (presumably) peaceful servants who will act as ambassadors for Jesus as they go ahead of him to the towns, to individual homes, to share his peace. As they enter houses, they are to pass the peace (of Jesus) to the inhabitants and, if the residents are promoters of peace, it will stay. If not, it bounces back, I guess.
Is this what happens in churches? Do we herald the peace of Jesus? Do we share this peace which entails confession, forgiveness, grace and all the fruits of the Spirit, or is it simply a catch-up time for those who might have been late for the service?
I’m tempted to think that the designation of peace, and the passing of it, was to prepare others for Jesus’ coming. As you are promoting peace, think about the words that facilitate the grace of God coming to individual houses. While small talk might be necessary, maybe this phrase could be a later follow-up: ‘No matter what you are feeling or going through at this moment, may the peace of God which passes all understanding guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.’
Holy Spirit, let your peace be upon me. Help me to be a promoter of peace and one who passes it on to others. Help me not only to feel peace but to be peaceful. Amen.
Reid Matthias is the school pastor at St Andrews Lutheran College in Tallebudgera, Queensland. Reid is married to Christine, who, together with their three incredible daughters, Elsa, Josephine, and Greta, have created a Spotify channel (A 13) where they have recorded music. Reid has recently published his seventh novel, A Miserable Antagonist, maintains the blog ireid.blogspot.com and regularly contributes to The Lutheran magazine.
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