Signs of Peace

“The passing of the peace finds its way into our day mostly in small, unseen moments as we live together, seeking to love those people who are the constants.” (Tish Harrison Warren, Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life, 79)

Recently some suggested moving the Sign of Peace to before the Offertory, in part to align with Jesus’ saying: “So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you … first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift (Mt 5:23-24).”

Ultimately, the move didn’t happen. Maybe, it occurs to me, there’s nothing unbiblical about the current order. The Sign of Peace is before we offer our gift — if, when we approach the Eucharist, the greatest gift we can bring is ourselves.