Sometimes I wonder if we live today with a proper understanding of the words and expressions Jesus spoke in the Bible. One of them is the word ‘peace’. Expressions meaning ‘peace’ that are familiar to us include Shalom, Pax, and Peace.
Shalom is Hebrew, Pax is Latin, and Peace is English. Shalom is said to include meanings such as unity, harmony, recognition and respect for others. In particular, it is said to mean the peace given when all contract conditions are fulfilled in relationships with God and neighbors. Perhaps it can be said to be a concept premised on the satisfaction of the highest good or common good.
On the other hand, Pax has the connotation of peace by force, with the image of a powerful empire emerging. You may have heard the term Pax Romana at least once. In other words, it expresses domination by political and military power as a peace under the rule of the Roman Empire.
It is said that ‘peace’ is derived from the Latin word pax. So, it can be thought that the English word peace implicitly includes peace caused by political and military power. It seems that errors are occurring here where our believers do not understand peace in its original meaning.
Jesus often spoke of peace as shalom. But what kind of peace is the peace we utter while exchanging the greeting of peace during the liturgy of the Mass? Shalom? the Latin— Pax? Or is the English word—Peace? When we exchange greetings of peace at Mass, we don't think: "I have a higher social status than you, so you have to follow what I say from now on." Clearly, we too think of peace as shalom.
And this kind of peace as Shalom should not be kept only between individuals. However, in the perception of many believers, it seems that we have different perceptions of peace as Shalom among individuals and peace as Pax among nations appears to have taken root.
Every day we hear news of countless massacres in the Middle East. It is gruesome. Is the peace of shalom that Jesus talked about an impossible reality? Or are we just ignoring it? Or is it only used between individuals? He concludes the column by mentioning that he doesn't think there has ever been a time when the greeting ‘Peace be with you’ has touched his heart as deeply as it does these days.
