Peace of God
“Jesus doesn’t offer peace of mind. Instead, he offers the peace of reconciliation.”—Diane Roth, “Living the Word,” Christian Century, March 14, 2018, p. 23.
Easter Accord
Diane Roth's response to the Lectionary Readings for the Second Sunday in Easter from John 20:19-31 serves as a reminder for us to reconcile with those we struggle with. Jesus calls us to love neighbors who are very different and to love our relatives who view politics through a different lens. It also involves seeing Christ in the most unlovable person at work and loving those whose beliefs are completely opposite ours. I could go on with many more examples.
hands across the divide Derry
A verse that often haunts me, spoken at the offertory, is Matthew 5:23-24: “So when you offer your gift at the altar, if you remember your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first, be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.”
Family systems models suggest that we should try our best to reconnect with any family members with whom we are estranged.
The core of 12-step recovery involves examining our resentments toward others, recognizing our role, which causes separation, making amends, and realizing our similarities instead of focusing on our differences.
These teachings remind us that when we struggle to love our neighbor, it becomes difficult to love God, because the God of our understanding also resides in our neighbor, just as God lives in us.
This is an important message for us to share with spiritual friends. We might not be trained to help our friends reconcile with those they are struggling with, but we are called to share our experience: that reconciliation with our neighbor is a direct path to the peace of God.
Forgiveness and reconciliation are central to our paths in building relationships with others and with our God.
Joanna joannaseibert.com. https://www.joannaseibert.com/