September: Shalom

Resolution: I choose to pursue the flourishing of myself, my community, and the world.

John Wesley (18th century Anglican pastor, missionary, and theologian), reflecting on the Fall in the third chapter of Genesis, notes four arenas of broken relationality: between God and humans, between humans and humans, between a human and self, and finally between humans and creation. It does not take much reflection to affirm this idea in the real world. We know all too well the harms humans visit on creation, the suffering caused by people upon other people, the internal disequilibrium we face, and the estrangement from God we feel. The virtue of shalom is the habit of working to repair this brokenness, alienation, and division. It is the resolution to choose to pursue the flourishing of myself, my community, and the world.

In his book on sin, theologian Cornelius Plantinga Jr. offers a powerful and motivating explanation of shalom:

The webbing together of God, humans, and all creation in justice, fulfillment, and delight is what the Hebrew prophets call shalom…In the Bible shalom means universal flourishing, wholeness, and delight—a rich state of affairs in which natural needs are satisfied and natural gifts fruitfully employed, a state of affairs that inspires joyful wonder as the creator and savior opens doors and speaks welcome to the creatures in whom he delights. Shalom, in other words, is the way things are supposed to be.

-       Not the Way it’s Supposed to Be, 10.

Shalom is not merely a state of existence but also a way of living in the world. Those who aim to take on the habit of shalom work to be people who partner with God’s redemptive work in the world and make things “the way they’re supposed to be.” Our central Christian call to be ministers of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5.17-21) is to be agents of shalom, working to turn back the effects of the Fall and bring flourishing to all arenas of relationality.

September: Liturgy

Leader: Jehovah Shalom, You created the world to be a place of Shalom consisting of peace and flourishing.

People: May we seek to establish Your peace in our world.

Leader: Prince of Peace, You taught us to pray for Your Kingdom to be on earth as it is in heaven. 

People: May we be Kingdom bringers in our culture.

Leader:  Holy Spirit, You were sent to be the comforter and the confirmation of the possibility of God’s peace with humanity.

People: May we experience this peace and be confident in God’s love for us.