At Mass this past Sunday, Fr. Gary helped us dissect the Our Father prayer. For me, it was a good reminder to think about and truly mean the words when I say that prayer, as well as other prayers and responses that are so easy to mindlessly repeat at Mass if I'm not careful.
The reminder brought to light a gesture we do every week at Mass: the sign of peace. Until yesterday, this just seemed like any other part of Mass to me. It's just one of those things we do, week after week.
But this week, I experienced something different. As we were doing the sign of peace, I realized how unique and special it is to take the time every week to look someone in the eye, take their hand in yours, and wish them peace. Think about how remarkable that is. It's one minute out of your week, but if you're like me, it is the only minute that you spend actively wishing peace upon someone else.
And it's not just that you're wishing people peace; rather, you're indiscriminately wishing people peace. I do a full 360-degree turn when I do the sign of peace, shaking hands with all of the people around me. You probably do too. We don't pick and choose who gets to receive our sign of peace--gender, race, age, religion. People you love, people you loathe. Close friends and complete strangers. The rich and the poor, the sick and the healthy. If you're within range, you get peace.
This is not a small thing. It's a remarkable message, really: That we need to make time for peace in our lives, and that we need to do so without bias or discrimination.
But it works only if it's more than just an empty gesture. The next time you do the sign of peace, you have a choice: Are you merely offering your hand to the people around you, or are you offering them peace?
--Jamey Stegmaier
Director of Operations
The reminder brought to light a gesture we do every week at Mass: the sign of peace. Until yesterday, this just seemed like any other part of Mass to me. It's just one of those things we do, week after week.
But this week, I experienced something different. As we were doing the sign of peace, I realized how unique and special it is to take the time every week to look someone in the eye, take their hand in yours, and wish them peace. Think about how remarkable that is. It's one minute out of your week, but if you're like me, it is the only minute that you spend actively wishing peace upon someone else.
And it's not just that you're wishing people peace; rather, you're indiscriminately wishing people peace. I do a full 360-degree turn when I do the sign of peace, shaking hands with all of the people around me. You probably do too. We don't pick and choose who gets to receive our sign of peace--gender, race, age, religion. People you love, people you loathe. Close friends and complete strangers. The rich and the poor, the sick and the healthy. If you're within range, you get peace.
This is not a small thing. It's a remarkable message, really: That we need to make time for peace in our lives, and that we need to do so without bias or discrimination.
But it works only if it's more than just an empty gesture. The next time you do the sign of peace, you have a choice: Are you merely offering your hand to the people around you, or are you offering them peace?
--Jamey Stegmaier
Director of Operations
