State of the Church: The Celtic Revival (21)
…we have written those letters which this note commends to you, so that, since we seek in good time the favourable vote of your authority, while we cannot do justice to the merits of the case, as our opponents indulge more in rage than reason, we may with a judgement live amongst your friends in the peace of church unity, even as the holy fathers taught…
– Columbanus, Letter to an Unknown Pope
Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.
– 2 Timothy 2.22, 23
Trying to avoid strife
The situation was growing worse. Columbanus had by now, because of the great demand of young people, begun his second monastic foundation in Gaul. There the monks worked, studied, and evangelized and, with great generosity of time and resource, welcomed young men from throughout Gaul into their ranks.
It was this, this “sheep-stealing”, combined with Columbanus’ unwillingness to recognize their authority over him, that really ticked off the Catholic priests and bishops. Columbanus was done trying to reason with them. Like a lot of political sorts these days, the Roman clergy were not open to dialog or reason. They were angry, and they raged at Columbanus and his troop.
All Columbanus wanted to do was live in “the peace of church unity”. He had written to Pope Gregory, and now he wrote to his successor, though he did know his name. He was hoping for a “judgement”, that is, for the pope to instruct his clergy to back off and let the Irish missionaries do their job. At this time, the churches in Ireland were not under the authority of the Roman Catholic Church. The Irish understood this, but the Catholic clergy did not.
Columbanus did not want a fight. He just wanted to live peaceably as one Church of the Gauls. He had the support of the local people and kings, but he knew he was not going to be able to persuade the Catholic clergy. Maybe their boss would do better.
Seek peace
Jesus is the Prince of peace; peace is His special remit—peace with God, within our souls, with our Christian brethren, and, as far as is possible, with all people (Rom. 12.18). But being a peacemaker doesn’t mean being walked over by the unpeaceable. Jesus didn’t, and neither did Columbanus.
Peace describes the character of the Kingdom of God (Rom. 14.17, 18); where Jesus rules, there is peace. We are not enforcers of peace but spreaders of it. As we rest and rejoice in the peace we have with God, we grow in peace as a way of life. Peaceful people are not argumentative, provocative, or brash. They don’t get angry, put people down, or judge and condemn them. For sure, it takes a peace from beyond this world to be a peacemaker and be at peace with everyone, and that is precisely the peace that Jesus has left us (Jn. 14.27).
None of Columbanus’ attempts to make peace with the Catholic clergy would prevail. In the end, those who opposed him would pull political strings to have him exiled. And while the work he began there continued, he was forced to move on from France to Switzerland and ultimately to Italy.
Spreading the peace of Jesus everywhere he went.
Where will you spread the peace of Jesus today? If you will bask in that peace each morning, poring over the love letter of His Word, “hearing His voice in every line” (Eliza Hewitt), and gazing into His face to see the glory of God there (2 Cor. 4.6), the peace that passes understanding will envelop you and guard your heart and mind throughout the day (Phil. 4.6, 7).
The world may not be very reasonable these days. But we are called to peace. We need not fear what the world might do.
For Reflection
1. Are you facing any situations that need the peace of Jesus?
2. How should you prepare each day to be a bringer of peace to your world?
Psalm 34.3, 12-14
Alleluia (Lowe): Mighty God, While Angels Bless You
Who loves life? Who longs for goodness? Keep your tongue from evil ways.
Turn to good, from wicked wand’ring; peace pursue through all your days.
Refrain v. 3
Magnify the Name of Jesus! Let us lift His Name in praise!
T. M. Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
For a good complementary study to this, check out Pray for Your Church. It’s free in The Ailbe Bookstore. And download our ReThinking Church Appraisal Tool by clicking here.
Other columns of interest: This week: In our ReVision series on “The Church” we consider the question of how to “church”. Our Read Moore podcast is working through our book, The Kingdom Turn. The focus of our Scriptorium daily study is on “Matthew: The Coming of the Kingdom.” Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
