“So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.”
Every week at Faith, right before we celebrate Communion (the Lord’s Supper), we have the passing of the peace.
We walk around the sanctuary greeting each other and sharing the peace of Christ with each other. If you’ve gone to church for long time, it probably feels normal and natural, but to someone who hasn’t been in church before, it actually can seem like a very strange and disruptive practice.
The service is going along. We sing songs, say a few things in unison, and listen to a message. Then it’s like we decided an hour was too long, so we put an intermission in the service.
“Alright, everyone can get up and walk around for a while talking with each other…and say something we don’t normally say in everyday conversation.”
It can seem awkward and like a disruption to the flow of the service.
So, why do we do it?
The passage from Matthew 5:23-26 gives us an answer. In this passage, Jesus is talking about our relationship with others and its connection with our relationship with God.
In the verses right before this, Jesus says we shouldn’t hold grudges or harm our brothers and sisters with our words. Now, He brings it to a point, you can’t separate your relationship with God from your relationship with others.
God’s love and forgiveness compels us to love and forgive each other.
The people weren’t just supposed to confess to God and move on. They were to seek out those they had sinned against and make things right.
As we prepare for Communion, we examine ourselves and confess our sins, looking to Jesus for forgiveness in His body and blood. The passing of the peace during this preparation time is an opportunity to confess to each other and apologize if we have sinned against someone. It’s also the opportunity to set aside any grudge or issue you may have with your brother or sister in Christ.
We have peace with God because our sins have been forgiven in Christ and we pass that same peace to each other, a peace between each other that comes from forgiving each other as Christ has forgiven us.
This is why we say,
“The peace of Christ be with you.”
We blessing each other with the peace that comes from Christ’s forgiveness and grace. Then we come as one body, truly unified, to receive Christ’s body and blood.
The passing of the peace is more than just an intermission or a time to greet each other. It’s a time to go to your brother or sister and offer or receive forgiveness and assure them that there is peace between you.
Let’s pray…
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for forgiving me. Help me to forgive my Christian brothers and sisters and, when necessary, to confess and receive forgiveness from them. Make us one, truly unified in peace, love, and forgiveness we have in You.
Amen.
As part of your devotion time, I encourage you to also pray for at least some of the following:
After praying for these people, you may want to finish your devotion time with the Lord’s Prayer…
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. They will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and every. Amen.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
Meeting Address:
27221 Foamflower Blvd.
Wesley Chapel, FL 33544
Ph: (813) 602-1104
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