"Peace be with you," in the Irish language. Recently, my family and friends from the Erie Playhouse had an opportunity to share our award-winning production of THE GLORIOUS ONES with our friends of the Dungarvan Dramatic Club in Waterford County, southeast Ireland. I found myself wishing old friends and new acquaintances "peace," in their homes, in the work, in their creating, and in our time spent together.
Síochán leat. The wishing of another "peace" is a universal greeting, parting, and well wish. My Arabic students greet me with Salaam alaikum, "Peace be upon you." In our Christian Eucharistic liturgy, we greet one another with the phrase "Peace be with you," and respond with "And also with you" or "and with your spirit. These are the words that Jesus used to greet his friends during his resurrection appearances, and words that should have a sacred and honored sincerity each time they are uttered.
The extension of peace, though, is not always a concrete wish. In point of fact, by our actions and by our words, we often are not invoking a sense of calm or ground, but a sense of anxiety, conflict, and tension. Many of our prayers for peace are empty, as we actually wish ill upon one another. Can you imagine if you were greeted, or you greeted someone yourself, with "Pain be with you." or "Anxiety be upon you." or "Hatred be with you."
We disciples of Christ are in the world, but not of the world, says Paul. We recognize the hypocrisy and disingenuous psyches of individuals and institutions around us. But we need not adopt or employ such negative tactics in our own interactions and relationships. In fact, we are called to imitate Christ, to reach out to those with whom we may disagree, or to those who may harbor ill will towards us and those we love. And we are to wish them peace.
So to those who are intolerant, unwelcoming, voluntarily ignorant of the millennia of Christian teachings on שָׁלוֹם, or ειρήνη, or pax, or peace, I say to you:
Síochán leat.
Salaam alaikum.
Peace be with you.
In the Peace of Christ,
Fr. Shawn
Síochán leat. The wishing of another "peace" is a universal greeting, parting, and well wish. My Arabic students greet me with Salaam alaikum, "Peace be upon you." In our Christian Eucharistic liturgy, we greet one another with the phrase "Peace be with you," and respond with "And also with you" or "and with your spirit. These are the words that Jesus used to greet his friends during his resurrection appearances, and words that should have a sacred and honored sincerity each time they are uttered.
The extension of peace, though, is not always a concrete wish. In point of fact, by our actions and by our words, we often are not invoking a sense of calm or ground, but a sense of anxiety, conflict, and tension. Many of our prayers for peace are empty, as we actually wish ill upon one another. Can you imagine if you were greeted, or you greeted someone yourself, with "Pain be with you." or "Anxiety be upon you." or "Hatred be with you."
We disciples of Christ are in the world, but not of the world, says Paul. We recognize the hypocrisy and disingenuous psyches of individuals and institutions around us. But we need not adopt or employ such negative tactics in our own interactions and relationships. In fact, we are called to imitate Christ, to reach out to those with whom we may disagree, or to those who may harbor ill will towards us and those we love. And we are to wish them peace.
So to those who are intolerant, unwelcoming, voluntarily ignorant of the millennia of Christian teachings on שָׁלוֹם, or ειρήνη, or pax, or peace, I say to you:
Síochán leat.
Salaam alaikum.
Peace be with you.
In the Peace of Christ,
Fr. Shawn
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