Peace!

Reflections, Easter Thursday

There are many definitions of peace.  I chose three definitions from dictionary.com that resonate with the peace Jesus gave to his disciples:

First, a state of countries in accord; a time of peace among countries is a time of development.  In this situation fullness of life abounds among peoples;

Second, a state of calm or quiet; an interior state of peace; solitude with God and self, possessing harmony with self, God, nature and others.  This brought about by a quiet, lively relationship with the living God;

third, rapport and amity between peoples and parties.  Here we emphasize the gift of relationships and the love that binds them.

Peace is God's gift to us; God who is the source of peace is also our destination.  For His peace is our fullness of being.  Peace is not escaping from problems.  Peace is in confronting problems and courageously resolving them through the power of Jesus to change us and breathe life into us.  As the saying goes, "There is no way to peace; peace is the way."

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