When you enter a house, first say, 
‘Peace to this house.’
(Luke 10:5) 
 

Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

Jesus’ instructions to the 72 disciples very clearly tells them to go out in a spirit of utter simplicity and non-violence, to prepare the way for Jesus’ message of God’s love and closeness. The principle for the original building up of Jesus’ followers remains the principle for us to reach out and receive the reign of God into the world in our time. Jesus instructs that the first word of the Good News is “peace”.

Peace is the manifestation of God’s presence. It is a gift of God to be received willingly. In Sunday’s first reading, God promises to send peace flowing over Jerusalem like a river. (Isaiah 66:12) When it is welcomed, peace flows over the world like a river. We are called in our times, not only to speak of Good News, but to be the Good News to others. We are called to be peacemakers in the fullest sense. Will I receive, and will I share?

The second reading tells us, “God forbid that I should boast of anything but the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ ... the only thing that counts is new creation! Whoever they are who take this principle for their guide, peace and mercy be upon them.” (Galatians 6:14-16). So we see that the peace that is to flow over the whole earth like a river is also presented as a new creation springing from the cross of Christ.  Where the cross of Christ and the new creation form the principle that guides attitudes and actions, there is peace. Redemption comes to us as a blessing of peace.

How does the cross of Christ and the new creation in Christ guide my attitudes and actions?

Does a gift of peace feel like redemption to me?

How will I bring a blessing of peace to myself and others today?

Reflections by Kath Knowles

Lord,
Make me an instrument of your peace,
 Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; 

where there is sadness, joy. 
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand;

 to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; 

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.         
                                                                                           St. Francis of Assisi 
 

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