Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Today’s text

3 John 1:14-15

“I hope to see you again soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace to you. The friends send you their greetings. Greet the friends there, each by name.”

Prayer

We say to each other what you say and are to us, “Peace.” You, Loving Mystery, are the most gracious of hospitalities. You force no one to love or acknowledge you but offer unceasing welcome into your blessed nearness. Through your flesh, the body of our brother Jesus, you never tire of inviting us to abide, rest and find home in you.

Peace is your word to us, spoken by our resurrected Christ to frightened souls hiding behind closed doors lest they, too, meet their end in the executioner’s art. Since that moment, you continuously speak this most welcome word through all eternity

‘Peace, I am your home, your place of arrival amid arid wanderings where you find no water. Come, quench your thirst.

‘Peace, I am the place of eternal welcome where your restless wanderings may cease.

‘Peace, I am the home you have always wanted, the smile you seek in every face, the laughter that does not end, the answer to the nagging question your confused heart does not know how to ask.

‘I am your peace; there is no other.’

And there is no other who can speak the promise of peace that death cannot still and life cannot kill.

Blessed are you, Holy One, for you are our peace. May your peace be our first word to each other as meet face to face. Amen.

Pr. David L. Miller