The first resurrection gift

I read today a comment from Francis Bacon (not the painter but the scientist and devout Christian who died in 1628!) He brought together Luke 2:13,14: 'the company of heavenly host singing Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men' with John 20:19: 'On the evening of the first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said "Peace be with you"'.

Bacon wrote: When Christ came into the world, peace was sung; and when he went out of the world, peace was bequeathed.  At Christmas we love singing carols about peace and its fits so well the feel-good mood of the season.  And, frankly, it can be a surface feeling.

The contrast with that first Easter is dramatic. Disciples locked down in fear with hopes dashed are suddenly confronted by the new reality that Jesus is alive with them, and when he gives peace there is nothing surface about it. He has been through such suffering and death to win it.  These disciples can know a personal sense of deep things now being right in their lives because Jesus has won at-one-ment, and they can experience a far wider community dimension of belonging together in harmony with God. Never had the world known this gift until then.

It is not an escapist word. Not a feel-good personal emotion.  Not a surface feeling.  It's about experiencing the peace of God won at such cost by Jesus. Its forgiveness, healing, purpose and love cannot now be broken.  Peace for places of fear and distress.  Like today.

A prayer from William Barclay:
Give us within our own hearts the peace that passes understanding. 
Take from us the worries which distract us, and give us more trust.
Take from us the doubts which disturb us, and make us more sure of what we believe.
Take from us the wrong desires from which our temptations come, and make us more pure in heart.
Take from us all estrangement from you and give us the peace of sins forgiven.  
All this we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.