When I was a kid, the sign of peace was my favorite part of the Mass. I loved turning to the people in the pews around us for a handshake, and of course squeezing my brother’s hand really hard so he might yelp and get in trouble… (oh he did it to me too)
As I grew into a teenager, we would sit behind the Wilson family with their five handsome boys, and I spent the first half of every Mass in anticipation of the moment I could shake Greg’s hand, worrying about my palm sweating and dreaming that at the moment our hands touched, our souls would too. That… didn’t happen, but you know, a girl could dream.
In our Gospel story today Jesus sets the expectations on his followers at a pretty high bar. While they had always heard the rule that they should not kill, Jesus says “don’t even let yourself get angry!” The word “raqa” in this reading means fool, and it’s an insult. Jesus seems to be saying that insulting each other is as serious as killing. How are we meant to live up to impossible standards like that?
Our Gospel today contains the root of the tradition of exchanging peace at Mass. Every week we are asked to remember that Jesus says that we need to address these things, to reconcile with each other, before we approach the altar with our gifts. That’s why the sign of peace happens just before the Eucharistic meal. It’s assumed that by the time Communion comes around, we’ve done what we’re expected to do, with our neighbors— to make peace.
Paul, in our first reading, is explaining just how it is that we Christ-followers should be expected to live up to higher behavioral standards. It’s not because we are representing Christ in the world, although for the world to know us by our love is the hoped-for outcome, and not a bad reason in itself; it’s because we have seen Jesus. It’s because we have seen God’s glory totally revealed in Jesus the Christ. Paul invites his readers, and us, to move beyond the simple following of rules, or rote practice of prayer, to living an obviously changed life. Paul says their ancestors only got to see part of the whole of the glory of God, the part that Moses was able to reveal to them, but he says, we’ve seen the whole thing; God has revealed Their glory to us completely through Jesus. We have seen all there is to see of God. And our lives should be changed by that.
Admittedly, making peace between us is a lot to fit into a handshake mid-Mass. And that’s why it has to happen during the other six days; If we’ve made peace with each other during the week, the handshake (or hug, or wave!) can take it’s proper place as a symbolic action; a sign of the peace that is between us.
And so, as we continue on and into a moment of silent prayer, let’s consider where we’re being invited to make peace in our lives, and ask God for the courage to do so, so that we can truly more fully experience God’s glory in the Eucharist. Peace be with you!
And with your spirit. ✌🏼