Scripture:
Reflection:
The Easter Octave: “Peace Be With You…”
In almost all his Resurrection appearances, Jesus greets his disciples with “peace.” He seems eager to dispel any fear in their hearts…and when you think about it, without faith we humans have reason to fear. Illness, injustice, economic uncertainty, loneliness, violence, hunger, etc.: realities all too common in today’s world, just as they were in the time of Jesus.
The risen Jesus shows us that we have no reason to fear either the present or the future. In His life, death, and resurrection, He triumphed over sin and death. In his life-long ministry of teaching, preaching, and healing, Jesus revealed that He has fulfilled the promises God made throughout Old Testament times. Such was the point St. Peter wanted to make in his sermon to the crowd in Solomon’s Portico that is our first reading today. We in the 21st Century can thus be confident that both we and our world are in the loving hands of God…there’s no reason to fear…have faith!
Jesus’ words “Peace be with you” to His early disciples are not an empty, casual greeting. They express the great gift of God’s “shalom” which can dissipate all fear from our lives and embolden us to witness in word and deed God’s unconditional love for our needy world. Are we women and men of Jesus’ peace? Do we radiate that Christ-centered peace in the 1,001 details of modern life…at times with our lips, often with our lives?
As 21st Century Easter People, “alleluia” is our song; Jesus’ gift of peace adds a richness to that song which invites the world to sing along. As the words to an old soft drink advertisement stated: Let’s teach the world to sing…
Fr. John Schork, C.P. serves as the Province Vocation Director and also as Local Superior of the Passionist Community of Holy Name in Houston, Texas.