Peace Be With You.

John 20:19-22 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.” The apostles were behind locked doors because of fear. Today, we are behind closed doors to our homes, perhaps feeling uncertain? Are we actively living today with the reassurance of Christ? When he says, “Peace be with you,” he’s speaking to us today. It’s that peace, that reassurance that keeps us going. In tough times, we’ve got to breathe in that peace, because we don’t want the consequences.

Then he’s telling us that as the Father has sent him (Jesus), so he is sending us today. When we look around, our world today seems as calloused to God’s word as it was in the apostle’s world. And into this Jesus says “…I send you!” Our spiritual self is stronger than our human self, because we have received the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we are equipped. Once again, a lesson taught 2,000 years ago applies to us in 2020. Let us pray: Oh God, your love for us runs so deep, and your care is never ending. Help us to see the opportunities to love in greater capacity and be there with gentleness with those having difficulty in accepting you. We so want to share your peace with the world. I pray you will show each of us new opportunities to speak of you. We love you, Lord, and we thank you for your peace and protection. Amen.