Ponder Anew
One of my favorite preachers, the Rev’d Dr. Jeffrey Hanson from Boston’s Church of the Advent, shared a helpful and amusing illustration on the peace of Christ in a 2019 sermon. The Gospel lesson for that day was John 14:23-29, which reads in part:
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid” [NRSV].
Here’s what Father Hanson had to say:
“One of my favorite TV shows is the animated sitcom King of the Hill. It tells the story of Hank Hill, a conservative family man living and working as a propane salesman in a Texas suburb. Hank’s father, Cotton Hill, is an even more rigid reactionary, a proud and patriotic war veteran who constantly belittles his son Hank, whom he regards as totally inadequate even though Hank is truly a good and reliable husband, father, and friend. The extent of Hank and his father Cotton’s conflict over even trivial matters is revealed in one episode when they are shopping for Christmas tree ornaments. Hank selects an ornament for his father’s approval that bears the word ‘Peace.’ ‘How’s this one?’ he asks. ‘Peace!?’ his father sneers. ‘I bet you would like that. Why don’t you get one with a flag-burnin’ on it’ Provoked by his father’s derision, as he always is, Hank replies defensively, ‘Dad, it’s Jesus peace, not hippie peace.'”
“Let There Be Peace on Earth” is not a prayer for the kind of peace that Jesus gives. Certainly, the absence of conflict and hostility is a worthy goal, but it is not enough for the Christian. That’s the danger with little ditties like this. There’s not much that is inherently bad about it. Perhaps in some civic ceremonies they are completely appropriate. But the people of God need to not mistake the generic references to God and brotherly love for the kind of peace that the Bible, particularly Jesus himself, talks about. During times of intense conflict, such as our present day, it would be a grave error to turn to happy, trite, saccharine thoughts to get us through.
The holy Comforter sent in Jesus’ name is not sent to bring us hippie peace. Things are bad right now, and may only get worse in the future. Happy thoughts and superficial harmony will not pass muster. The only peace that will endure the worst of hardship will be that found in the presence of the Holy Spirit.
It is strangely fitting that we find ourselves in Pentecost during this time, with Trinity Sunday coming up. Bold reliance on the triune God for protection of soul and body is supremely relevant during such turbulent times. This hymn, attributed to St. Patrick, the “Apostle of Ireland,” proclaims this aptly, certainly better than a silly folk revival-era song:
I Bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.
I bind this day to me for ever,
By power of faith, Christ’s Incarnation;
His baptism in Jordan river;
His death on cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb;
His riding up the heavenly way;
His coming at the day of doom:
I bind unto myself today.
I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, his might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need;
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, his shield to ward;
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.
Against the demon snares of sin,
the vice that gives temptation force,
the natural lusts that war within,
the hostile foes that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
in ev’ry place and in all hours,
against their fierce hostility,
I bind to me those holy pow’rs.
Against all Satan’s spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart’s idolatry,
Against the wizard’s evil craft,
Against the death wound and the burning,
The choking wave, the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning.
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity;
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One, and One in Three.
Of whom all nature hath creation;
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.
That’s not a peace that can “begin with me.” Or any of you. But if we really do still trust in God’s promises of protection and ultimate victory, let us never settle for what the world calls peace, and let us never put its pseudo hymns in front of our congregations.
Or, as another hymn hauntingly puts it:
The peace of God, it is no peace,
But strife closed in the sod.
Yet brothers, pray for but one thing –
The marvelous peace of God.
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