December 12: Peace With Others
♫ Music:
Thursday, December 12
Title: PEACE WITH OTHERS
Scripture: Colossians 3:12-17
So, as God’s own chosen people, who are holy [set apart, sanctified for His purpose] and well-beloved [by God Himself], put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience [which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes, with good temper]; bearing graciously with one another, and willingly forgiving each other if one has a cause for complaint against another; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so should you forgive. Beyond all these things put on and wrap yourselves in [unselfish] love, which is the perfect bond of unity [for everything is bound together in agreement when each one seeks the best for others]. Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise]. To this peace indeed you were called as members in one body [of believers]. And be thankful [to God always]. Let the [spoken] word of Christ have its home within you [dwelling in your heart and mind—permeating every aspect of your being] as you teach [spiritual things] and admonish and train one another with all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus [and in dependence on Him], giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Poetry:
Praise Song
By Lucille Clifton
to my aunt blanche
who rolled from grass to driveway
into the street one sunday morning.
i was ten. i had never seen
a human woman hurl her basketball
of a body into the traffic of the world.
praise to the drivers who stopped in time.
praise to the faith with which she rose
after some moments then slowly walked
sighing back to her family.
praise to the arms which understood
little or nothing of what it meant
but welcomed her in without judgment,
accepting it all like children might,
like God.
BEYOND FORGIVENESS: THE PEACE OF CHRIST
The poet writes of her Aunt Blanche, who hurled herself into the “traffic of the world,” bent upon self-destruction for reasons of her own. And yet. She is miraculously saved, and sighing, is embraced by her family that Sunday morning.
The singer speaks the brokenness of our acrimonious world, yearning for the suspension of judgement, all for the sake of love. The poet and the singer agree that forgiveness is grounded in our awareness that “we need each other more than we need to agree.” The singer prays: bless us with your grace, love, and peace,” pleading, “Love. Let there be love.”
The artist pictures the broken man, our Messiah, on the cross, with Peter’s question suspended with him: “Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” How are peace and forgiveness linked to the Church?
The word in Ephesians 2:12, often translated as “Commonwealth” in English, is translated into Hebrew as “Edat Ha-Milah” or “Congregation of the Covenant”—the People who are the witness to God’s covenant with them.” In the Arabic translation it is rendered “Ra’awiyat Isra’il” or “People of Israel.” “Ra’awiyat” is etymologically related to the biblical Hebrew concepts of “kinsman, friend, companion, neighbor, and, fellowship, and people (ra’ah, ra’eh, ra’ut). This is closer to the biblical concept of the nation than the biblical Greek term “politeias” which eliminates these rich relationships. In Christian Arabic, “Ra’awiyat Isra’il” is thus the expanded People of Israel, the fellowship of believing Jews and Gentiles, pastured by the shepherd-king, the ancient archetype of the just and merciful ruler. It is the “Peace of Christ” which binds us together in this age.
This “Peace of Christ” is a mysterion, which in biblical Greek means “that which awaits disclosure or interpretation” and which is now revealed. This peace is that which unifies us in our faith in the Prince of Peace, the Messiah and Savior of Israel. It is our posture towards one another and with the world; we are the invisible, bounded community—the expanded Nation of Israel— which includes all of the ones called out from the nations by Christ.
Seventy are the nations, to whom is promised rest: forgiven, all to forgive. The Shalom of the Savior, the Great Sabbath of Salvation, that is the Pax Christi, by which the Messiah saves us and the nations from self-destruction—and redeems them their sins for the sake of His name. This is our blessed hope and assurance.
And here the mystery is revealed: Seven is Shalom, completeness, rest, indwelling. Christ is our Sabbath Rest, and we, His people.
This community is not an institution, an organization, or an enterprise created by human beings and dependent upon power. It is not a religion. It is not a kingdom, but it is imminent. It transcends time and space.
The reality of this relationship is one that can be perceived in the reconciliation of Palestinians and Jews in Messiah. The invisible Church in the Middle East is a sign of redemption, an affirmation of the covenant in this age. Can you see it?
Prayer:
On Shabbat, I don the tallit, the Jewish prayer shawl. Wrapped in the loving presence of the Lord I am enveloped in Shalom HaMashiach. Filled with gratitude, I worship the Great King, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, alongside unseen multitudes called out from among the nations. On Shabbat, the Torah Scroll embodies our savior, ink upon parchment, the skins of 70 animals. 7 x 70. The Great Sabbath, pointing to the inevitable Millennial Reign of Christ, who has reigned, is reigning, and yet will reign. Jesus is coming. The end of this story is the beginning of a new one; here is a glimpse of that promised redemption: we already walk together with Him in Jerusalem.
Beyond all these things, beloved… put on and wrap yourselves in self-compassion, knowing that you are forgiven and worthy of unconditional love.
Once or twice in a lifetime,
A man or woman may choose a radical leaving
Having heard, Lech Lecha—GO FORTH!
God disturbs us toward our destiny
By hard events and
By freedom’s now urgent voice
Which explodes and confirms who we are.
We don’t like leaving.
But.
God loves becoming. 1
No matter the ruptures that mark the endings and the beginnings in our lives, may we ever be faithful in our witness to the faithfulness of the God of Israel and the dependability of His promises so that we may recognize the signs of our own redemption.
1 Adapted from Mishkan Tefilah: (Sanctuary of Prayer) A Reform Siddur
(NY: Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2007), 231
Judith Mendelsohn Rood, PhD
Emeritus Professor of History and Middle Eastern Studies
Department of History
Biola University
For more information about the artwork, music, and poetry selected for this day, we have provided resources under the “About” tab located next to the “Devotional” tab.
About the Artwork:
Father, Forgive
Tanja Butler
2015
Painted paper collage
5 in. x 5 in.
The phrase "seventy times seven" is synonymous with God's eternal forgiveness. Matthew 18:21-22 (NJK) reads: “Then Peter came to Him and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven." Jesus isn't telling us to forgive our brothers 490 times, or 70 times, or 77 times. He's telling us we should always forgive our brothers when they have sinned against us. Meditative and devotional in nature, Butler’s small collages often include pieces of printed fabric and painted paper. Her goal is to develop imagery that has the simplicity of form and clarity of a child-like vision, which we are told is required for us to see the Kingdom of God.
About the Artist:
Tanja Butler (b. 1955) was born in Germany and moved to the United States as a young girl. She received her B.A. and M.A. from the University of Albany, New York. Her artistic practice has focused on liturgical art, illustration, and community service projects. She is inspired by Byzantine icons, American and European folk art, Persian manuscripts and textile patterns, African art, Early Christian art, Russian Suprematist paintings, Cubism, and Fauvist color. Informed by studies in art history and time working in Italy, she was particularly influenced by the frescoes of Early Renaissance artist Fra Angelico in the Monastery of San Marco in Florence, Italy. Her work is included in the collections of the Vatican Museum of Contemporary Religious Art; the Billy Graham Center Museum at Wheaton College; the Boston Public Library; the DeCordova Museum in Massachusetts; and the Armand Hammer Museum of Art at UCLA in Los Angeles. In 2014 she retired from her position as an associate professor of art at Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts, where she taught painting, drawing, liturgical art, and illustration.
Artist website: www.tanjabutler.com
About the Music:
“Peace” from the album Hope for a Tree Cut Down
Lyrics:
Broken conversations, broken people, we're broken Lord.
Terrified illusions, seeking comfort, we're seeking more.
We need each other more than we need to agree.
Father, Son, Spirit bless us with your love,
with your grace and peace.
Peace.
Let there be peace.
Let there be peace.
Let there be peace.
Let us see and not destroy. Let us listen. Let us listen.
Let us suspend judgement for the sake of love, for the sake of love.
We need each other more than we need to agree.
Father, Son, Spirit bless us with your love,
with your grace and peace.
Love.
Let there be love. (among us)
Let there be love. (among us)
Let there be love.
About the Composer:
Paula Best is a founding member of The Church of the Beloved, a mission project of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America that operated in Edmonds, WA, until the summer of 2019. She recalls how she was asked to write a song about peace for the new church: “As I began to think about what I might say about peace, I recalled a conversation with a friend where he had said one particularly simple yet stunning sentence. He said, ‘We don't have to agree to relate.’ These words helped me shape the message of the song. I wanted our community to have a song that invited us to peace and relationship amidst our differences and conflicts. I felt that as we laid the groundwork for our new church, it was important to establish this as a core value and commitment to each other."
About the Performers:
The Church of the Beloved started as a group of friends sharing weekly meals and dreaming about ways to do church together. In those early days they read a book together called Life of the Beloved by Henri Nouwen. Ryan Marsh, Beloved’s “architect,” recalls, “After reading this incredible little book we all agreed that [Church of the Beloved] was to be our name, for this is who we are - 'Church' - called out of our isolation and into community. And we are 'Beloved' - deeply loved by God from all eternity.” The church eventually organized under the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and also founded the Rosewood Community house, a community dedicated to living simply together, growing together in love for God and neighbor through rhythms of prayer, gospel hospitality, and sustainable practices. The church was rich with incredible musicians and it soon became clear that they had much to share. Thanks to several donors, they eventually recorded four albums for free download, the first of which was Hope for a Tree Cut Down. Musicians featured on the album include Paula Best, Jason Best, Tara Ward (Beloved’s worship architect), Lacey Brown, and David Chapaitis. The closing service of Church of the Beloved and the Rosewood Community in Washington was on June 2, 2019.
About the Poet:
Lucille Clifton (1936-2010) was one of the most distinguished, decorated, and beloved poets of her time. She won the National Book Award for Poetry for Blessing the Boats: New and Selected Poems 1988-2000 and was the first African-American female recipient of the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize for lifetime achievement from the Poetry Foundation. Ms. Clifton received many additional honors throughout her career, including the Discovery Award from the New York YW/YMHA Poetry Center, a 1976 Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for the television special Free to Be You and Me, a Lannan Literary Award in 1994, and the Robert Frost Medal from the Poetry Society of America in 2010. Her honors and awards give testament to the universality of her unique and resonant voice. In 1987, she became the first author to have two books of poetry – Good Woman and Next – chosen as finalists for the Pulitzer Prize in the same year. She was also the author of eighteen children’s books and in 1984 received the Coretta Scott King Award from the American Library Association for her book Everett Anderson’s Good-bye.
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/lucille-clifton
About the Devotion Writer:
Judith Mendelsohn-Rood, PhD
Professor Emeritus of History and Middle Eastern Studies
Department of History
Biola University
Judith Mendelsohn-Rood, PhD is a Jewish Christian who taught the history of world civilizations and undergraduate and graduate seminars on Islamic Civilization, Jewish and Israeli history, and historiography at Biola University. She was drawn to teach at Biola because its founders believed that God still had a purpose and plan for the Jewish people, heroically standing up for them in their darkest hours. In an era of increasing hostility to Israel on American college campuses, Professor Rood happily served the Church by preparing disciples who are equipped to understand the grand narrative of biblical and secular history. Recently retired from Biola, she is now directing the academic projects of The William E. Blackstone Center to cultivate and nurture faithful evangelical scholarship on Israel and the Middle East from a biblical perspective.