Sign of Peace by Rev. Robert Scheckenback
What is the Sign of Peace?
Better yet, what isn’t the sign of peace. The Sign of Peace is not a greeting. The sign of peace is a ritual gesture of unity. That is why many communities have an informal greeting before the liturgy begins. The Sign of Peace is the "second level" of the Communion Rite of Mass. After the Liturgy of the Word we enter into the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and part of the Liturgy of the Eucharist is the Communion Rite itself. It begins with the Lord’s Prayer, the Sign of Peace, then the distribution and reception of the Eucharist. Three levels of being in communion with each other, building up to the ultimate level of communion with each other, union with God. So unlike a greeting, the Sign of Peace is a Ritual gesture that signifies us being united. We share the one bread and one cup so as to become one Body of Christ.
