"SHALOM"

How different hve your days been since last week Sunday”?
Last week there was a sense of expectancy and joy in this
sanctuary – balloons, flowers, it was Easter Sunday – a day
when we greeted each other with –
“he is risen”
“He is risen indeed!”
Is this greeting only for Easter Sunday?
This greeting is true for every day.
We didn’t only have that one day to fly, we can fly every day –
Love is stronger than evil, love is stronger than any fear, love is
stgronger than any pain, resentment, anger, bitterness – and we
can and should throw out the sandbags and fly –
the Kingdom of God is reality because of Resurrection Day.
Jesus embodied the good news of the Kingdom.
He shows us how to live life the Kingdom way.
He did not choose to use political power or violence. He went
the way of the cross, the way of love.
Now I want to add in another demension that we haven’t really spoken
about yet.
The way of love become the way of Shalom.
Love and shalom walk the same way – and sometimes that may
even involve suffering – but there is always grace – always grace
because of God’s deep love for us.
what is the meaning of the word “Shalom”?
It is a very complex word.
A holistic word.
Shalom speaks about wholeness. It means wholeness.
It speaks about what ought to be.
It tells us how the prayer we pray each Sunday here in this
sanctuary can become reality –
“May your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven”
The kingdom comes on earth when we practise shalom.
Shalom is a doing word – so much more than saying to someone
“peace, my brother” – “peace, my sister” and simply walking past them.
Biblical understanding of Shalom is three fold –
Our physical and material well-being and let’s hear that this is for everyone
About positive, good relationships with others At the top of the list, I include our relationship with God.
Shalom is about our own integrity, honesty and straightforwardness
within ourselves.
Shalom is love in action.
Shalom is love that is engaged in the truth.
Shalom is love that empowers.
Shalom is love that reaches out.
Shalom is love that hears the heart of God and surrenders to God’s way.
Jesus says to His disciples – “Shalom to you”
Again He says to them “Shalom, as the Father has sent me, so I send you …….”
Go and live shalom says Jesus.
He breathes on them the Holy Spirit – perhaps that means we can’t live shalom in our own strength, but the Holy Spirit empowers us.

Do you have any idea what the key could be to living shalom?
My sense is that shalom is love that hears the heart of God and surrenders to God’s way.
Hearing the heart of God., and then allowing the heart of God to live through us.

How do we hear the heart of God?
Firstly I think it may be true that we hear better when we listen with a thankful heart.
How often do I see all the blessings that are around me in the very ordinariness of my day?
How often do I start my prayers by simply thanking God?

Secondly, lets learn to be quiet and simply be with God.
Slow down. Take time out.
Join us at Communion and Healing on a WED evening over the next 4 weeks when we learn more about “being”
One last thought on hearing the heart of God, the heart of Shalom, the heart of love – perhaps meditating on 1 Cor 13 will help us …..
Read the words ………………..
Is this not a picture of the way of love, the way of shalom?
May God help us to see that the way of love, the way of shalom will lead to wholeness.


Shalom, my brothers and sisters…..