'See, my children, a person who is in
a state of sin is always sad. Whatever he does, he is weary and disgusted with
every thing; while he who is at peace with God is always happy, always joyous.
. . Oh, beautiful life! Oh, beautiful death!'--St. Jean Marie Baptiste Vianney:
(1786 – 1859: was a French parish priest who is venerated in the Catholic Church
as a saint and as the patron saint of parish priests.)
Gospel
Text: (LK 24:35-48)
The disciples of Jesus recounted what
had taken place along the way,
and how they had come to recognize him
in the breaking of bread.
While they were still speaking about
this,
he stood in their midst and said to
them,
“Peace be with you.”
But they were startled and terrified
and thought that they were seeing a
ghost.
Then he said to them, “Why are you
troubled?
And why do questions arise in your
hearts?
Look at my hands and my feet, that it
is I myself.
Touch me and see, because a ghost does
not have flesh and bones
as you can see I have.”
And as he said this,
he showed them his hands and his feet.
While they were still incredulous for
joy and were amazed,
he asked them, “Have you anything here
to eat?”
They gave him a piece of baked fish;
he took it and ate it in front of
them.
He said to them,
“These are my words that I spoke to
you while I was still with you,
that everything written about me in
the law of Moses
and in the prophets and psalms must be
fulfilled.”
Then he opened their minds to
understand the Scriptures.
And he said to them,
“Thus it is written that the Christ
would suffer
and rise from the dead on the third
day
and that repentance, for the
forgiveness of sins,
would be preached in his name
to all the nations, beginning from
Jerusalem.
You are witnesses of these things.”
The central point that stuck with me
in today’s Gospel from Mass was the first words out of Jesus mouth to his
disciples were “Peace be with you.” No fear. No scolding for their failure and
betrayal of him on Good Friday. No turmoil. No doubt. Simply Peace. Those words
Christians have said to one another ever since, perhaps without thinking: Peace
be with you.
These same disciples cowered in fear
behind locked doors when good news was waiting for them outside. Good news came
to them anyway, even in their fear. They were seeking safety, and the truth
came instead. Is it fear that makes us hide from the suffering of the world?
Perhaps that’s a mystery of the heart, so easily turned to stone, so easily
turned away from the pain of others.
Whenever we’re afraid and hiding out,
all locked up, God comes to us in the midst of our fear and says, “Peace be
with you.” Whatever doubts churn consciences, whatever pain and worry bind us
up, whatever walls we have put up or doors we have locked securely, God comes
to us and says, “Peace be with you.” Whatever hunger and need we feel deep in
our souls, God calls us to the table, feeds us well, and sends us out into the
world to be justice and peace, salt and light, hope for the world. We can do
it, if we keep our eyes open, our minds limber, and our hearts soft and willing
to love. As God sent Jesus, God sends us, today.
Awesome, fratello!
ReplyDelete