TRUE PEACE BRINGS JOY

Reading: Isaiah 52: 7-10 (Complete Jewish Bible - CJB)

Early in my nursing career at Nationwide Children’s Hospital (long before it was “Nationwide”), I worked with a Jewish doctor, an anesthesiologist. Upon his retirement, I made a plaque wishing him “shalom.” He was so excited and moved by it, he choked up as he tried to relay to me the deep meaning of the word to him as a Jewish person.

Most modern versions of the Bible translate it “peace,” a good word for something we all seek: tranquility, calmness, quietness. And shalom is that – but so much more! Shalom implies wholeness, completeness, soundness, health, safety, and prosperity, and carries with it the implication of permanence. It’s something the world cannot give; not something we conjure up in our minds to try to make us feel at peace.

How does this shalom become ours? Isaiah 53: 5 tells us what we have just witnessed again this Lenten and Easter season:

            But he was wounded because of our crimes, crushed because of our sins;

the disciplining [punishment] that makes us whole [gives us shalom] fell

on him, and by his bruises we are healed (CJB)

Jesus the Christ took the punishment for all our crimes and sins, that we might be free to receive his (and our) Father’s peace. As we receive this good news, we are also filled with great joy.

            Break out into joy! Sing together, you ruins of [Jerusalem]! For Adonai

(Lord) has comforted his people, he has redeemed [Jerusalem]! (Isa 52: 9)

Peace and joy are closely entwined, as this definition from the Merriam-Webster dictionary for joy reveals: “the emotion evoked by well-being, success, prosperity.” The permanence of this peace and joy transcends all earthly attempts at peace because it doesn’t come from us. Jesus told his disciples when he was leaving this earth, “My [shalom] I leave you; my [shalom] I give to you, not as the world gives, give I unto you.” (John 14: 27)

So, dear brothers and sisters, I commend to you Jesus, your Prince of Shalom! He is the agent of peace that God has provided for us – have you fully embraced him as the only Way to true Peace and Joy with God?  I pray so. SHALOM, MY FRIENDS!