SHALOM
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May 24, 2025My Dear People of God:
In the celebration of the Eucharist before receiving the body (and blood) of Christ in holy communion, there is the Rite of Peace in which the presider says the following prayer, “LordJesus Christ, who said to your Apostles: PeaceI leave you, my peace I give you, look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will. . .” This prepares the congregation to have peace among one another and within one’s self before communing with Christ.
Looking back, this was also the same peace,the Shalom, that Jesus wanted his disciples to have as an assurance of his love and presence among them and that the Holy Spirit, the Advocate will be sent by the Father to teach them everything. This was exactly the Shalom that gave them comfort and provided them supportall throughout. “Peace I leave you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you.” (John 14:27) And yes, the peace that Jesus gives is different from what the world has. It is not just the absence of conflict or war.Shalom in Hebrew concept indicates wholeness, completeness, soundness, health, safety and prosperity, carrying with it the implication of permanence. (Inheritmag.com)
Why did Jesus assure them of this Shalom?Jesus was about to leave them behind. He was preparing them to have the courage and strength they need, for them to realize that the presence of the Advocate, the Holy Spirit will give Shalom. To live and feel that kind of assurance among his disciples is as relevant as today. We are reminded about the presence ofGod among us through the Holy Spirit and this presence gives wholeness, completeness, the permanence of his love.
In the midst of our fear and the uncertainty of many things including perhaps our future, Jesus reminds us to take courage, have faith, and feel the Shalom of God. St. Paul reminds us of his letter to the Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Trusting the Shalom of God does not mean, however, that everything will change into better circumstances of life. Havingthe Shalom would assure us rather, that we will endure the sufferings and hardships, still feeling at peace in the midst of difficult situations. That was Christ’s assurance to His disciples and still His assurance to all of us. SHALOM!