Here is part of our New Testament reading, from Ephesians: ‘For he is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end’.

St John Chrysostom commented: ‘“For He is our peace, who made both one”. What is this, both one? He does not mean this, that He has raised us to that high descent of theirs, but that he has raised both us and them to a yet higher’.

Christ is our peace, in our individual hearts, reconciling all that is divided within us; and also, in a great redeeming work, on the level of the whole human race. Let us pray for this peace, both in our hearts and in our world; and may God bless you this day.