I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD–for he proclaims peace.
The entire human race was without hope and without peace. Some were strangers to the covenants of promise, others could not meet the obligation of the law with its commandments and legal claims. We were at enmity with God and with one another until Jesus came to bring and establish the peace which we lacked.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off
have become near by the Blood of Christ.
For he is our peace, he made both one
and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his Flesh
Apart from this peace we experience life as strangers from one another. We wander and feel lost. That was our condition. But now we have access to true peace because we have access to the only true source of peace.
He came and preached peace to you who were far off
and peace to those who were near,
for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
This is the peace the LORD speaks to us. We still experience moments when we feel without hope and alone. Let us listen to what God proclaims. Let us receive the peace he gives us.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid (see John 14:27).
God's peace is unique among the false alternatives offered by the world in that it doesn't leave us alone and isolated but joins us together as one in Christ.
Through him the whole structure is held together
and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord
Perhaps we don't feel peaceful right now. Perhaps at this moment we do feel very much alone. Let us wait and be attentive, like servants waiting for the master. He wants to visit our hearts with all the gifts of his Spirit. If we are attentive to his coming we will receive them.
Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.
Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
We must be "ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks." If we are ready we will receive the blessings he has for us. We can tell when we receive this grace for we are not united to God only but also to all of his sons and daughters. It is not abstract within the heart of a lone seeker. It is the very source of our life together.
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
No comments:
Post a Comment