Peace Be with You

While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, ‘Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.’ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence. Then 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, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’ Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God. Luke 24:36-53

When Jesus offered peace, the disciples were terrified and thought they were seeing a ghost. From this distance, it would be easy to dismiss their fears, yet they lived in a climate of fear. They were in a locked room trying to protect themselves from arrest. They were enemies of the occupying government. They were enemies of the religious leadership. They had every right to be afraid. Although some saw Jesus on the road, the whole group hadn't, and they dismissed the women as being hysterical. Only when he ate in their presence, did they see Jesus for who he really was. He reminded them of his promise and blessed them. We find ourselves in scary times, when good people are being rounded up and greed rules the land. It is easy for us in our fear and anger, to miss seeing Jesus, to miss the promises and the blessings. May we remind ourselves of his promises and be agents of his blessing.

Loving Savior, you suffered so we might live

you know the trials of those arrested and in prison

you understand the life of those falsely accused

and you bring blessings despite horrid human behavior.

Our time is one of distrust, greed and slander

we hear our leaders call good people horrible things

so may are unsafe because of their skin color

their language and orientation make them suspect.

Let us leave our locked rooms and safe havens

so we might receive the blessings of the spirit

give us eyes to see you here in these hard times

so we might share your love with an aching world. Amen.