The writings of the early church fathers speak of the holy kiss, which they call "a sign of peace", which was already part of the Eucharistic liturgy, occurring after the Lord's Prayer in the Roman Rite and the rites directly derived from it.

‘Then, after the consecration of the Holy Sacrifice of God, because he wished us also to be His sacrifice……….when the Sacrifice is finished, we say the Lord’s Prayer which you have received and recited…

After this, the ‘Peace be with you’ is said, and the Christians embrace one another…This is a sign of peace…..’ Sermon 227

The source of the peace greeting is probably from the common Hebrew greeting shalom;

and the greeting "Peace be with you" is similarly a translation of the Hebrew shalom aleichem.

Luke 24:36They were still

talking about all this when he himself stood among

them and said: Peace be with you

John 20:21, 20:26The doors were

closed but Jesus came in and stood among

them.‘Peace be with

you,’ he said.

The Peace is that peace which Jesus said the world cannot give (John 14:27)

It is a peace lived in the love of God It is a peace that connects us to the

presence of the Risen Christ

The exchange of peace prior to the reception of Communion is an acknowledgement that Christ whom we receive in the Sacrament is already present in our neighbour.

Communion with God in Christ is enjoyed in communion with our brothers and sisters.

"It is appropriate that each one give the sign of peace only to those who are nearest and in a sober manner.

The Priest may give the sign of peace to the ministers but always remains within the sanctuary, so as not to disturb the celebration.

He does likewise if for a just reason he wishes to extend the sign of peace to some few of the faithful.“

Redemptionis Sacramentum 72

Lord Jesus Christwho said to your Apostles:Peace I leave you, my peace I give you;look not on our sins,but on the faith of your Church,and graciously grant her peace and unityin accordance with your willwho live and reign for ever and ever.

The peace of the Lord be with you alwaysAnd with your spirit

In what way has this reflection challenged how you think about the sign of peace?

How could this be exchanged in a way that is sober and fitting?

Jesus is the sacrificial passover lamb Who died for our sins

Behold the Lamb of God,Behold him who takes away the sin of the world.Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.

The word ‘happy’ has been changed to ‘blessed’

You may be blessed even when you are experiencing sorrow

Blessed connects more with our call to holiness and the proclamation of Revelation 19:9

The angel instructs John to write down the message

Connects to the words of Jesus in the Gospel: It is a blessing for you when people persecute you………rejoice and be glad

The Marriage of the Lamb has come….. Fathers of the Church – union between

Christ and the Church as a marriage bond

A wedding feast is the ultimate banquet, most celebratory

Sir, I am not worthy to have you under my roof; just give the word and my servant will be cured

Sir, do not put yourself to any trouble because I am not worthy to have you under my roof

To receive becomes ‘that you should enter under my roof’

This makes a more direct connection with Matthew 8:8 and Luke 7:6

The centurion feels unworthy to have Jesus in his home

Jesus admires the man’s faith and cures the servant from afar

We become like the centurion We are unworthy to have Jesus come to us We express our faith in him We reach out for healing We connect to the healing power of Christ

in this great sacrament Only say the word and my soul shall be

healed

How do you imagine the Lamb of God? In what way have you or do you

experience the healing presence of Christ in the eucharist?

On the feasts of the Lord,when the faithful receive the Body of the

Son,they proclaim to one another the Good News

that the first fruits of life have been given,as when the angel said to Mary Magdalene,

‘Christ is risen!’Now too are life and resurrection

conferred on whoever receives Christ.Fanqith:Syriac Office, vol 1, Comm, 237 A-B