He is our peace

0:04

One In Christ

Choir of Royal Holloway, Rupert Gough

Today is Tuesday the 20th of October, in the 29th week of Ordinary Time.

The Choir of Royal Holloway sings, ‘One in Christ’, by George Arthur. ‘When we were still far off you met us in your Son and brought us home. Dying and living you declared your love and opened the gate of glory.’

Draw near to God today as you enter into prayer. You can do this knowing that it is God who draws near to you first.

4:12

Today’s reading is from St Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians.

Ephesians 2:12-22

Remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, so that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling-place for God.

6:40

Today's reading is an opportunity to remember and reflect on all that Christ has done for us. Paul speaks to the Ephesians of a time they were “without Christ”. Can you remember a time in your life like this? A time before you knew Christ?

‘For He is our peace’. Perhaps you haven’t enjoyed this fact for a while. Take a moment to spend time with the peace of Christ, and the Christ of peace.

Listen the passage again. Hear the language of peace, reconciliation and oneness, noticing what it is exactly that brings these...

9:10

Ephesians 2:12-22

Remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, so that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling-place for God.

11:26

‘For He is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.’ Perhaps these words, written thousands of years ago, are exactly what the world needs to hold onto today. As you speak to God, you might like to use these words and turn them into a prayer.

13:28

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be

World without end

Amen