Offering the peace of Christ

Jesus’ response to the disciples' fear was to offer them new life and from new life comes courage.

WORD OF FAITH: A breakdown of each week's upcoming Sunday readings to better understand the Word of God at Mass.

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.” — Psalm 118 

The Gospel on the second Sunday of Easter opens with “On the evening of that first day of the week.” (Jn. 20:19) There is much for us to take in and absorb about the Resurrection. One Sunday or even one week is not enough for us to experience the fullness of the Resurrection of the Lord. The Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Resurrection of the Lord over an eight-day period, known as the Octave of Easter. The octave runs from Easter Sunday to the Second Sunday of Easter. What we hear in the Gospels during the eight days of the Octave are the events that unfold on that first day of the week. Those events are particularly captured in the Gospel of the Second Sunday of Easter, John 20:19-31.

The disciples are hidden in the upper room out of fear and the doors are locked. The passion and crucifixion that unfolded over the previous three days affected the disciples to the point where their faith was shaken. The instinct to flee and hide for fear of their lives took over. In hiding they were trying to make sense of all that had happened. In particular, they could not comprehend the meaning of the empty tomb: “for they did not understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead.” (John 20:9) They thought Jesus’ body might have been stolen. They were filled with a paralyzing fear. It is then, when they are hiding in the upper room, that Jesus appears and offers the disciples peace. Not once, not twice, but three times does he offer them peace. The peace that Jesus offers the disciples will give them new life. From this new life will come courage through the Holy Spirit. The offering of peace three times is significant, the courage Peter lacked during Jesus’ trial when he denied him three times, will now be replaced with the courage that only peace can provide. Jesus’ response to their fear was to offer them new life and from new life comes courage.  

Jesus then said the second time, “Peace be with you. As the father has sent me, I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit would replace their fear with fullness of life and courage. St. Thomas Aquinas tells us that the divine mercy of God is poured into our hearts with compassion to raise us up from our fallen state to a state of grace. The disciples experienced this raising up when Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (Jn. 20:22) 

The Apostle Thomas was not with them when Jesus appeared the night of the first day of the week. When told of this Resurrection appearance, Thomas said, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” (John 20:25) A week later Jesus appeared again in the upper room and for the third time he said, “Peace be with you.” He offers peace to Thomas. He does not scold Thomas because he doubted, rather he offers Thomas peace. The divine mercy of the Lord invites Thomas to touch the wounds in his hands and side. He provides Thomas the fullness of life and Thomas gives his Christological proclamation, “My Lord and my God.” Thus, Thomas has received the fullness of Life which can only come through the mercy and peace of Jesus Christ.

The First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 5:12-16) reveals how through the Holy Spirit that Jesus breathed on the disciples filled them with courage. The fear that had paralyzed them now was replaced with acts of faith and courage. The peace that Jesus breathed on them was a sending forth to provide his merciful healing upon the nations. The disciples were sent to provide the fullness of life, which can only come from Jesus Christ.

Psalm 118 tells us in the first verse that, “his mercy endures forever.” The enduring mercy of Christ is seen in the healing acts of the Apostles. These acts provide new life for those who were dead, “Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever.” (Revelations 1:17-19) As disciples, we are sent forth to offer the fullness of life by offering the peace of Christ.