“…The Peace of Christ be with you… And also with you…”
The peace that we share when we turn and shake hands
Is simply the peace that our Savior commands.
As Christ reigns in heaven, he calls us to live
As people forgiven, with God’s peace to give.
As we risk and we dare so God’s kingdom extends.
Remind us again, Lord, that seeds will increase —
that you’ll give the harvest when we work for peace!
Peace grows through the dreamers who seek a new way,
Through workers who struggle to build God’s new day.
It grows through the soldiers who once fought in wars
Yet now seek a new way that heals and restores.
Peace grows through the diplomats forging a deal
And building a treaty so nations can heal.
Peace grows when our fears don’t control what we do—
When we see that others are God’s children, too.
Peace grows when our leaders are brave to spend funds
On schools and on students, not weapons and guns.
Peace grows when all citizens work for the good
So all will have housing and health care and food.
When all use their talents so conflicts will cease,
Imagining, working and risking for peace,
When nations negotiate rather than fight
Then justice is possible! Peace is in sight!
As we risk and we dare so God’s kingdom extends.
Remind us again, Lord, that seeds will increase —
that you’ll give the harvest when we work for peace!
Biblical References: Matthew 5:9; Matthew 5:23-24; John 14:27; James 3:18; Isaiah 2:3-4; Luke 2:14; Luke 19:41
Tune: William Howard Doane, 1875 (“To God Be the Glory”) (MIDI)
Text: Copyright © 2015 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved.
Email: carolynshymns@gmail.com New Hymns: www.carolynshymns.com/
Hymn Use Permission: This hymn is copyrighted and is not covered by any organization (such as CCLI or OneLicense) that gives churches permission to use church music. If you would like to use this hymn, please contact Carolyn and Bruce Gillette (carolynshymns@gmail.com) for permission and to get a copy of the hymn in MS Word format for bulletin use. See also A Dozen Ways to Support Carolyn’s Hymn Writing.
Hymn Note for “O Christ, We Remember the Things That You Did”
The Bible speaks about health, wholeness and health care in countless places. God calls us to “do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God” (Micah 6:8). We are just and kind when we care for others who are hurting; we walk humbly with God when we take seriously God’s will. God’s will is for children to grow healthy and strong and for all people to live long, healthy lives (Isaiah 65:17-25). Jesus came bringing health and healing (see all the healing stories of Jesus, including the story of Jesus healing the man lowered through the roof in Mark 2:1-12). He told the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), a person who made it a priority to provide medical care for a stranger. Jesus went out of his way to care for the poor and the outcast, and he called us to do the same (Matthew 25:31-46). He told his followers to “do unto others as you would have others do unto you” (Matthew 7:12); that surely includes making sure that others have access to the same, good-quality health care that we want for ourselves and our loved ones.