When the Lord’s Prayer is finished,
the priest turns to us and says, “The peace of the Lord be with you
always.” We respond, “And with your spirit.”
It is important to understand peace
according to its Biblical meaning. In the Scriptures, peace is not
simply the lack of conflict. Rather, it is a state in which
everything is in its proper order. When we are truly at peace, we are
living as God would have us do. We are in a right relationship with
Him and with the people He has put into our lives. Our minds and our
hearts are focused on Him, and our words and actions flow out of that
focus.
The priest or deacon then invites us
to offer each other the sign of peace. This should be brief and
simple. A handshake, nod, smile, or wave to the people around us is
sufficient. We must remember that the sign of peace is not intended
to be a miniature social hour in the middle of Mass. Instead, it is
intended to remind us of Jesus’ words about reconciling with our
brothers and sisters before we bring our gifts to God in worship. It
is a nudge toward forgiveness, a challenge to let go of grudges, and
an invitation to allow God to fill our hearts with His love for the
people around us.
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