“Peace be with you.” Three times in today’s Gospel, we hear the risen Lord assure his disciples with these comforting words: “Peace be with you.” And, although this greeting of peace, “Shalom,” was a common expression among the Jewish people of his day – as it still is today – it had taken on a much deeper meaning for the followers of Jesus who had just gone through three days filled with anything but peace. It made them think of our Lord’s words of encouragement to them just a few days earlier at the Last Supper, when he said: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”
In the midst of their troubled world, filled with sadness over the loss of their dear friend, Jesus, who had been cruelly crucified, and the fear they had for their own lives, the risen Lord offered them his peace. How comforting and encouraging this must have been for the disciples.
To truly appreciate the meaning of these words, we must also remember how the disciples have found themselves in this room. All but John had abandoned their leader and good friend, Jesus. Peter had even denied knowing him. One of them – who was no longer in their midst – had betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Now, they cowered behind locked doors for fear of their lives. And then, Jesus, now risen from the dead, seeks them out. We can’t help but notice that he doesn’t wait for them to find him; he goes looking for them. And, when he finds them, he doesn’t rebuke them for abandoning him or denying him. Rather, in his divine mercy, he offers them his peace. What a great comfort this must have been for them. It offers us great comfort, as well. No matter how we may have abandoned, denied or betrayed him, Jesus, in his great mercy, offers us his peace.
And, it doesn’t end there. Notice what Jesus does and says next. He breathes on them, giving them the Holy Spirit. Just as we hear God breathing the Spirit of life on humanity in the Book of Genesis, Jesus breathes the Spirit of new life on his followers; we receive that same Spirit when we are confirmed. Some 90 among us received that tremendous gift just yesterday right here as they received the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Then, Jesus commands his apostles into action, saying, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you!” This is the same Lord whom we hear in today’s second reading appears to John in a vision as he assures him with the words, “Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last, the one who lives. Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever. I hold the keys to death and the netherworld.”
Let the Easter proclamation – Jesus is truly risen – be our comfort and encouragement. It is in him – he who has overcome sin and death – that we have the promise of new life, a life of true peace in the midst of the troubles and fears of this world and of eternal peace in the next.
And, let us heed Jesus’ command to all his disciples: “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” We, who have experienced God’s love and mercy in our lives, are called to share his love and mercy with everyone we meet. Just as Jesus relied on his disciples – weak and flawed as they were – to continue his work, he relies on us – weak and flawed as we are – to continue his work today. What a comfort it is to us to know of God’s endless mercy. In gratitude, let us spread the Good News of his love right here, in our homes, communities, schools, workplaces – wherever we are! That’s how we, his followers today, help to bring his kingdom into our midst; how privileged we are to be called to do so!