Pass the Peace
a liturgy for welcoming all parts of ourselves to the Table.
My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
John 17:20-23
Introduction
The Church, our nation, families, and friends are divided. We say we long for revival, but first, we must come together to receive it. This seems an impossible task. Although we are not helpless. We may be “powerless”, as they say in the 12-Step program, to change “people, places, and things”, but we are not “helpless”. I can “Let it Begin with Me”. I can do my part by becoming whole so I can be integrated into the Body of Christ in a way that will make revival sustainable when it is received from God.
How do I do my part? How do I become whole? First, I have to be willing to admit that sometimes, “when I point a finger at someone else, I have three fingers pointing back at me.” Instead of passing judgment, I can choose to listen to my emotions and turn towards the parts of myself that hold them. The moment I notice feelings of disgust, anger, fear, frustration, jealousy, despair, or hate bubbling up inside me, I can ask myself, “Is there something about this person’s character or behavior that is actually mirroring a part of myself that I have not accepted or don’t want to see?” If so, I can resist the urge to cut that part of myself off, disown it, ignore it, numb it, or bury it under performance or perfection because it—
bears the shame of my failure,
the weight of my questions,
and the sting of my doubts.
Instead, I can find a way to make peace with that part of myself so he or she can be integrated as a beloved part of my whole self so that I can function authentically and without guile in the Body of Christ.
The Jesus Way was sitting at the Table with all the torn parts of himself. You, me—torn apart from Him—divided against himself and one another. Yet somehow, he sat with the ones who would betray him, deny him, doubt him, and fail him. He looked them in the eye and said, Look, I know what you’ve done, where you’ve been, what you’ve said, and how you think. I also know who I AM, and I will love you to the end. (John 13:1-3). Then, he passed the peace.
Peace for your failure.
Peace for your shame.
Peace for not knowing better.
Peace for your pain.
Peace for the injustice.
Peace for the tears.
Peace for the waiting all these years.
Every part of our being was created by God with a purpose and a plan, and he called us good. There are no bad parts. There are only parts that are trying to survive under the weight of judgment, abandonment, exile, death, or oppression. They don’t need more fear and shame to drive them even further into darkness and isolation. They don’t need to be told to do better or try harder. They need peace.
They need to be seen, heard, and relieved of all the ways they have burdened with false roles and responsibilities to manage our pain and the pain of others when God never intended for it to be “manageable” to begin with. We are simply invited to bring those parts to the Table where they can be unburdened and filled with the peace that they need to live as their authentic self in the Body of Christ.
Perhaps, then, welcoming all parts of ourselves to the Table and passing the peace to others is one in the same—the first step in receiving a whole new life.
Liturgy
I. Prepare a Place
Read
So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”
The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
Mark 12:14-16
Steps
Go to a room in your home that is quiet and close the door.
Silence all distractions.
Light a candle to represent the Light and presence of God’s Love—Jesus.
Turn off other lights if you can.
Find a comfortable seated position and fix your eyes on the candle flame.
Take a clearing round of breath—breathing all the way in, then sigh it out.
Slow your breathing down for three more rounds—exhaling longer than your inhale.
Do a body scan from the top of your head to your toes—relaxing any muscle tension.
Enjoy a minute or two of silence in your mind as you continue to stare at the candle flame.
Pray
“Jesus, I have prepared this place to meet with you. During this time of prayer, I ask for the grace to see your truth and to receive your love for me. Amen.”
II. Invite
Read
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28
Steps
Imagine Jesus entering the room to share his Last Supper at the Table with you. You recall that he has always been more than willing, even desiring, to dine with sinners, the poor, and outcasts of society. His eyes are kind and fixed on you with a gentle smile on his face. He sits down in the chair across the Table from you. Then, he nods his head and gestures towards the other empty chairs.
Invite the part or parts of yourself that have been carrying the weight of judgment, abandonment, exile, death, or oppression to come take a seat at the Table. (ie. childhood, teenage, young adult, or middle aged self)
Say
“I welcome the parts of myself that have been carrying the burden of false roles and responsibility for managing my pain or the pain of others to come take a seat at the Table with me and Jesus. The Good News is Jesus made a Way for us to be alleviated of these burdens and to receive the love that we need to be made whole again.”
III. Behold
Read
Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone…how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him.
Matthew 7:9
Steps
Imaging Jesus beholding each part that has come to the Table. Notice how he attunes to each part’s facial expression, demeanor, thoughts, and feelings with compassion.
Listen as Jesus goes around the Table and asks each part,"What burden are you carrying?”, “How has carrying this burden made you feel?”, and “How has carrying this burden affected you?”
Allow each part to respond audibly to Jesus. (You can narrate his or her response with your own voice, write the response in a journal, or just imagine the response in your mind.)
Then, Jesus turns to you. Instead of judgment or shame, you see tears welling in his eyes. He says, “Now, tell me, how has it been for you? Tell me about the burden you have been carrying." Respond audibly, in your journal, or imagination to Jesus.
Finally, look at each part of yourself and offer one another a sign of God’s peace by saying, “Peace be with you”.
Pray
“Jesus, I give you these burdens and this pain. I ask for your love to heal all the parts of myself, deliver us from all false roles and responsibilities, and help us to live in unity as my authentic self. Amen.”
IV. Receive
Read
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
Matthew 26:26-28
Steps
Rest your open hands on top of one another with your palms facing up.
Imagine Jesus going around the Table, and giving each part of your self a piece of the communion bread into their empty palm saying, “This is my body that was broken for you so you could be made whole. Take it and eat it. It is my Gift to you.”
Then, imagine each part eating the bread and receiving new life into their being as they are brought into unity with God, your authentic self, and the Church.
Close your eyes for a few minutes—turning your gaze inward. Allow your body and your senses to focus on the presence of God doing a deep healing work within you.
Pray
“Jesus, I receive the free Gift of your love and belonging into every part of my being. I surrender my will and the care of my life into your hands. I choose to follow you on a healing journey so that I might become my authentic self more and more each day and that your love might be made known in the world around me. Amen.”
V. Rest
Read
The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:26-27
Steps
Place your hands over your heart. Take a moment to express your gratitude to Jesus.
Take three long and slow rounds of breaths as you recite the closing prayer…
Pray
(Inhale) Jesus, (Exhale) be my Light. (Ps. 43:3)
(Inhale) Holy Spirit, (Exhale) be my guide. (Is. 30:21)
(Inhale) Holy Trinity, (Exhale) be my home. (1 Cor. 6:19)
Amen.