To Ponder
Did you know that Mothers' Day originated as a day of Peace?
Recently, we celebrated Peace Sunday by singing songs of peace using litanies and praying for peace.
Our study book for the 2012 campmeeting is Ann Spangler's THE PEACE GOD PROMISES. She invites us to explore the word shalom which involves wholeness, salvation, well-being' "everything that makes for the highest good for everyone". She reminds us that Jesus is Sar Shalom, the Prince of Peace for all people.
In Matthew 5:9 Jesus tells his followers, “blessed are the peace makers for they shall be children of God". Jesus mission was a mission of shalom/peace.
Peace resembles a patch work quilt. A quilt contains pieces of cloth from friends, family and sometimes even strangers. Peace is made up of people, and countries from around the world. A patch work quilt begins when clothing is torn, damaged or worn. The pieces are salvageable and are carefully sown together. Peace begins with remnants of people who are damaged and weary of war. who recognize how valuable they are. People begin to work together, pray together and like the quilt they are brought together with the threads of hope.
In the turbulence and violence of our world today we see scant evidence of peace and peacemaking. Martin Richard, eight years old, killed in the Boston bombing, a year before drew a picture of a butterfly and underneath it he wrote "no more hurting people" "Peace." He understood what Jesus said.
Making peace is not an option for followers of Jesus. We are to take the initiative. We must reach out to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, share with those in need,
For in Hosea 10:12-14 we read "sowing justice will result in peace. Blessed are the makers of peace for they shall be doing the work of God. Blessed are those who make the world a better place.
In Spangler's book, she shares the story of a youngster who was given puzzle pieces of world. The child surprised the giver by completing it quickly. When asked how, the child replied, "oh there was a picture of a person on the other side, when you put the person together, you put the world together".
The night before Jesus was crucified; he sat at table with the disciples and said, “Peace I give to you, not as the world gives. Peace is God's gift embodied in Jesus and lives out in our faithfulness to him.
Shalom
Pastor Grace