All of a sudden, that person in front of us is not just an isolated individual separate from us but is someone who wishes us peace, as we wish them peace as well. In some more progressive settings, people actually move out of their pew and wander around, offering peace to as many people as they can reach. The symbolism is clear: We are family.
Joseph Stoutzenberger, Ph.D., is a Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at Holy Family University in Philadelphia.
Joseph Stoutzenberger 