I hear my English students walk into class greeting one another and me, “Shalom, salaam, syallom, shlama, sälam, shalum, saloma,…”. They are from different places around the globe and speak in their native tongues. They don’t understand one another’s languages, but this word translates easily. These students are adult refugees who have experienced terrible trauma. Yet they have not given up the search for peace within themselves and their community.
More than a hundred different languages share the word “shalom” and use it as some kind of greeting. It means peace, but also wholeness and completeness. When it’s used as a greeting, one is saying hello and asking, “How is your completeness? How is your peace?”
The Apostle John recorded Jesus as saying: “I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27 NLT)
Three takeaways from His message:
The peace of Jesus is a gift; it cannot be earned but only received.
His peace is for our hearts and minds. It is so complete that it drives out fear. His peace and our fear cannot occupy the same space.
His perfect peace can be found nowhere else.
Shalom in community means that people care for one another and value peace and unity. The ultimate goal of our faith is to help produce shalom on this Earth. What are we doing to receive the wholeness that the peace of Jesus offers? How can we purposefully share this peace within our circle of influence? One day, Jesus will restore all to a state of shalom. In the meantime, we have a part to play as His followers.
Shalom, dear sisters!
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