Hello Church, Grace and Peace to you in the Name that is above all names: Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior!

When I say Grace to you, I mean Grace as God’s gift of Jesus Christ. Peace is translated from the Jewish word, Shalom, which is used for greetings in the Jewish culture.

Today, April 21, is HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY which in Hebrew is called Yom Hashoah. Yom means day and Shoah means whirlwind (ha is the article the). Thus, for the Jewish community, it is “the day of the whirlwind” remembrance … Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Contrast this Remembrance Day with the Jewish greeting of Shalom or peace. There are many reasons why we might not enjoy peace in today’s world. Wars, viruses, political tensions, and the economy are just a few of the reasons why we may find peace so elusive. Also, we all have personal challenges of health, family, jobs, and personal finances. In addition, we see our culture moving further and further away from the values and norms that please God, which is very heart-breaking.

You may ask yourself, “How God could allow the Holocaust to happen to His chosen people?” Perhaps this question is impossible to answer. However, we trust that the one and only True God, who created and called the Jewish people, is loving and just. The Holocaust may challenge one’s faith, but at least we recognize that Jesus, the Jewish Messiah and by extension the world’s Messiah, understands unjust suffering better than we will ever know! Jesus loved and trusted His heavenly Father, as should we trust our Heavenly Father in these times.

The good news is that the peace in our soul does not depend upon our circumstances; it has its roots in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ in our hearts.

Thus, I am grateful for His Shalom today, and I hope you are, as well.

Edited from an article by Dr. Mitch Glaser of Chosen People Ministries