Grace and Peace
“Grace and Peace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Philippians 1:2
St. Benedict believed, as people of faith and as sinners, we have the opportunity to begin each day with a clean slate. This idea of beginning again can be symbolized every morning at the dawn’s early light. If you have ever witnessed the sun’s rising, you know how extraordinary it is. I’ll never forget traveling to Israel and waking up early on the Sea of Galilee. Sitting out on the deck in the shadows of the Golan Heights, the world was waking up. The water was motionless as the cry of the jackals filled the air. Nature was searching. It soon became clear with this new day, and the rising of the sun, darkness again would be defeated.
This defeat of darkness is not only seen in nature with the beginning of a new day, but it is also seen in our lives in Christ. By coming into the world, Jesus became our light. By defeating the darkness of sin and separation, His presence provided our path to God. Enslaved no longer, the light has become key to our emancipation.
The theme of grace and peace were prominent in Paul’s writings. Having known darkness himself, the idea of grace and peace was like the dawning of a new day. No longer bound to human works and the law, Paul realized it was only through the initiative of God in the gift of grace that the true light would prevail. You see, grace was the light, and peace was the result. No longer were we bound to human works through the law. It is not what we could do, but rather, what God would do on our behalf. Darkness and sin were not an option for God. It was not a part of His nature. In fact, He was adamant about its defeat.
As we begin a new day, let us be mindful of God’s gift of grace. It can be the hardest thing for us to embrace and, yet, until we actually do it, we will never have His peace. The good news is, as many times as we fall short, Jesus is there to receive us back into His loving arms. Let us begin the day with the light of God’s grace and allow His peace to settle upon us.
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”
Reinhold Niebuhr
