Grace and Peace

Grace and peace are two words that we hear the Apostle Paul consistently mention in his epistles. These are beautiful words with such deep and rich theological meanings, yet at the same time difficult words to internalize in our daily lives.

Grace is that free gift from God to each of us willing to accept its reconciling benefits. Yet all too often we spurn grace. After all we live in a society where nothing is free and forgiveness comes at a price. Thus this delightful gift is often forgotten or taken as a gift that surely must have a catch.

Peace on the other hand is as allusive as an old wily fox. When was the last time that we truly sat down in the middle of this hectic life and felt complete and utter peace? For one thing, our minds are constantly chattering and busy. We are bombarded by continuous thoughts, ideas, fears, worries and doubts. Our minds are like a constant picture show dredging up the past, predicting the future and often day dreaming in the present. It is no wonder we don’t seem to be able to grasp the concept of peace when we feel there is no peace!

Yet grace is God’s free gift to us. There are no catches. All we have to do is simply accept the gift and God takes care of the rest. We are saved (if I can use such a Protestant word) by the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is absolute unconditional and self-emptying love that demands nothing but our willingness to accept. I find great comfort in God’s deep love, and the fact that not even sin can overcome it or place conditions upon its purpose.

When we think of peace, we often think of pastoral scenes in paintings, or a placid, undisturbed lake surface. That is what we desire our minds to become. But God’s peace is a very different peace. It requires action on our part. The peace of God is dealing with the difficulties of the world, while finding comfort through our faith that God is with us and will not abandon us.

I leave you with the rich theological words by hymnist William Alexander Percy. He summed up the meaning of God’s peace in such a profound manner in his hymn, “They Cast their Nets in Galilee.” He wrote, “The peace of God it is no peace but strife closed in the sod. Yet let us pray for just one thing – the marvelous peace of God.”