Peace Be With You

                                 Second Sunday of Easter  April 28, 2019

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name. John 20:19-31

This Sunday is often referred to as low Sunday. The drama of the Passion and Easter has happened and then no one seems to knows what's next, or why they need to show up in church. The need for community can be lost in times of transition, loss and change. We can hide and wait, or we can step out into the fray, gather with the community and together be open to where we are led.

Jesus visits his terrified disciples, who are hiding, thinking they might be next for execution. He speaks peace to them, yet they seem to not be really very peaceful. They are caught in the in-between, not sure of what to do or how to go on. Yet Jesus speaks peace and love to them in the midst of their confusing time and speaks that to us as well.

Today, I ask God to help me receive that peace offered and lean into the love and support of community. May we hold each other up as we move through times of change and confusion, trusting we are being led on new journeys of love.

Collect
Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.