Linda Burch, St. Luke’s UMC Member since 1972 

2 Corinthians 1:2
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Numbers 6:24-26
The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. 

2 Corinthians 13:11-13 NRSV
11 Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.
13 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

Reflection
When was the last time you put pen to paper and actually wrote a personal letter? Do you remember receiving a special handwritten letter during a difficult season of life? Allow me to share some family history.

In 1936, my nineteen-year-old aunt Reba contracted TB and spent six months in the State Tuberculosis Sanatorium near San Angelo approximately 175 miles from home. I can only imagine her feelings of anxiety and those of her young, widowed mother and younger sister (my mother).

While cleaning out my aunt and uncle’s house seventy years later, I discovered a box of three hundred letters my aunt received during that time. Friends and family wrote her weekly, but my grandmother wrote her daily. All the letters inquired about her health, informed her of happenings at home, and most importantly offered hope and encouragement. I’m guessing these letters brought a measure of comfort and peace to both the writers and Reba. I know my grandmother relied heavily on God.

Now, let’s look at the New Testament letters written by the Apostle Paul to the young churches during a different stressful time. All the letters contain the salutation “Grace and peace to you from God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Peace is a theme that runs throughout the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament the Hebrew word most often used is shalom. It is much more than the absence of conflict. It denotes a state of well-being and an overall sense of completeness. The modern understanding of peace is looking for a break from turmoil, conflict, and anxiety.  Shalom addresses our spirits and hearts. Paul is reminding his readers that shalom is God’s gift, and through the grace of God’s forgiveness, they can experience this peace and share it with others.

The Greek word for peace often used in the New Testament is eirene. It expresses a sense of oneness and rest. In Paul’s letters it is the assurance of God’s provision and care. In the midst of fear and anxiety, God can be called on for peace. One synonym for eirene is serenity. Don’t we all long for that!

Paul’s salutation may harken back to Aaron’s blessing to the Jewish people in Numbers 6:24-26. (See above).

Paul closes his second letter to the church in Corinth by telling them to put things in order, agree with one another and live in peace. If they do these things, the God of peace will be with them. These are good reminders to us today. We can look to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit as our source. God’s countenance is turned toward us.  Let us turn our faces toward God for peace.

Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for shalom. Please keep me mindful that it is not the absence of stress but the wholeness your grace gives me in the hard places of life. Remind me to turn my face toward You as I search for peace. Show me ways to carry that peace to others. Amen.

Love,
Linda