Peace on earth - Shalom

Everyone knows that it is the dream of every beauty queen contestant to have ‘world peace’. So what does that mean? Do they know what it means? Is it just about the absence of war and everyone coexisting together, or is it deeper than that?

Many followers of Jesus in the western world would not appreciate the meaning of the word ‘shalom’ due to our separation of language, culture and time. Yet shalom, often translated simply as ‘peace’, is a theme we seek to engage with in the advent season. From my understand of the ancient languages that have influenced our scripture, and from the research I’ve done, our English translation of Shalom does not do justice to it’s true meaning therefore our action to proclaim peace and followers of Jesus may be ill informed.

From what I can gather together from various sources, to proclaim or speak shalom into someone’s life is to pledge to live for the others well-being, to seek security, contentment, sound health, prosperity, friendship, peace of mind and heart, a covenant to desire and seek the good life of God’s favour together. This is what peace is really about in it’s entirety and it is a ministry all Christians are called to.

I came across this quote from Rabbi Yisroel Miller;
"When the United States and the former Soviet Union co-existed for decades without declaring war on each other, that armed truce was not shalom. If neighbors in an apartment building never exchange cross words because they never exchange any words, that is also not shalom. The word shalom comes from the word shalem, meaning complete, all parts together. Shalom is when all parts of the whole, all people in the group, blend together in harmony."

This Christmas I have not only been reflecting upon the advent themes, but as my term of ministry with the Knoxfield Church concludes I have been reflecting upon how I’ve seen this church engage these themes in real life over the years. Whether we have named it in this way or not, this church has embraced the ministry of shalom and knows how to speak it’s language.

Remember that time when John Owen from Urban Neighbours Of Hope came to our Refugee Sunday service in August 2002 and he brought Adolphe with him? Our encounter with this shy Congolese asylum seeker resulted in us providing housing for 4 Congolese asylum seekers, Vox Congo, to this day. By doing this we were able to speak shalom in profound ways.

Remember the time when I came to the church one Sunday in December 2004 with a request? Christmas was only a few weeks away and the Chaplain I work with at Scoresby Secondary College came to me with a tragic story. A year 11 student who is an only child living with his dad woke up one morning to find his dad passed away during the night. This students life was in turmoil with the burden of preparing and paying for a funeral and everything else that goes with it. This church responded by paying for the funeral and the chaplain and I conducted it here at the church. Throughout 2005 you continued to speak Shalom into this students life and I have heard recently that he was deeply impacted and appreciative of the message of good news he received from the church at that time in his life.

We began the Kids Hope ministry with Knox Park Primary last year. I have been mentoring a boy for the last 2 years, he will be in years 6 next year. He gave me a present this week. It was a framed picture of him and with it was a letter. The letter expressed his heart felt appreciation for journeying with him through issues of bullying, blended family transition, helping with school work and being his friend. As a tear came to my eye I realized that I had been speaking shalom into his life.

These are some of the memories I will always take with me from my time in ministry with the Knoxfield Church of Christ.

Our participation in shalom goes much deeper than the wish for ‘world peace’. It is not merely an absence of civil disturbances but an active pursuit of the well-being of others. Shalom continues to find its expression in a sharing and caring community involving compassion for the needs of others which ultimately extends to mercy and justice.

This Christmas I hope you experience shalom in your life and through this experience you are able to extend it to others. May you continue to be a church who proclaims the Kingdom of God.

Shalom
Mark