A Gaelic Blessing
Deep peace of
the running waves to you,
Deep peace of
the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of
the smiling stars to you.
Deep peace of
the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of
the watching shepherds to you.
Deep peace of
the Son of Peace to you.
The prayer of blessing is an ancient practice, as old as
the creation of the earth (see Genesis 1:28).
Jesus took the children in his arms and blessed them, while the specific
blessing of peace was Christ’s as well, as he said farewell to his disciples in
John 14: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you.”
This particular prayer of blessing is one that has been
at the bottom of my e-mail for quite some time, minus the fifth line, that of
the watching shepherds. I suppose I
should have changed it long before now, but then I’d have to figure out how to
actually change it – so it stays.
Unfortunately, too many things remain in our lives because we can’t
figure out how to change them, but this prayer of blessing is a keeper.
Peace, deep peace, perfect peace. The theme runs through many of the Advent
prayers and Christmas carols. Not, Jesus
reminded us, as the world gives to us, but a peace that passes all
understanding. As the running waves, as
the flowing air, as the smiling stars, as the quiet earth. And yes, as the watching shepherds, those
faithful ones who kept watch over their flocks by night, waiting and
watching.
The images of this blessing remind us of the sense of
peace we long for, but the bless-er understands that the source of that peace
is found only in its last line – through the Son of Peace. Might that deep peace, found only in Christ,
be ours.
Prayer Focus: deep
peace
No comments:
Post a Comment