"Peace Will Remain if Invited In" By Beth
DeCristofaro
My heart is overwhelmed, my pity is stirred. I
will not give vent to my blazing anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again; For I
am God and not man, the Holy One present among you; I will not let the flames consume you.
(Hosea 11:8-9)
As you enter a house, wish it peace. If the
house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to
you.
(Matthew 10:11-12)
Piety
May the distresses, distraction and
temptations we feel each day in the uncertainties of life, strengthen our
desire to lean on you and your Word, O Lord.
May we be sustained and nurtured by your presence. May we be led by the power of your spirit.
May we be satiated with your peace.
Study
Unique metaphors and descriptions of God
acting upon us humans fill the Book of Hosea.
God is portrayed as a protector “out of Egypt I called my son.” God speaks as the parent of a toddler “it
was I who taught Ephraim to walk.” God
guides “I drew them with human cords, with bands of love.” God becomes
the rejected caregiver “though I stooped to feed my child, they did
not know that I was their healer.” God admits to being heartbroken “My
heart is overwhelmed.” Yet with
great patience, God comes back again and again and took them in my arm. One can hear God’s sadness at our obstinacy yet
mercy in these phrases.
Jesus offers the peace of God through his
disciples. And yet he knows there will
be rejection. Jesus does not judge the person
unworthy, but instead, he is wise enough to know our human hearts. It is within us to be worthy of experiencing
the bands of love wrapping us close to God and divine peace that fill us. If God’s peace does not stay within us, can
we be convicted enough to accept that the Holy One is present among us? Can we imagine and hope that Jesus’ peace is
for us when we are ready to turn back to him, not turn our backs on him.
Action
In what way do I experience God’s peace? Am I fulfilled? Am I longing?
In what ways might I make room for God’s peace to satiate me and which I
might offer to others?
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