Make me a channel of your Peace: Peace be with you

Peace be with you:
A resurrection promise

Readings
John 20/1-10
Mathew 28/ 1 -9
Mark 16/ 1- 10
Luke 24/1-12
Reflections

It was Sunday in Jerusalem when the annual paschal celebration was just completed. People in Jerusalem still in celebration merry and they are making most of the joy in the occasion. Relatives from far who have visited the family and friends are greeting one another in the love of family gatherings. Markets and business places have made most profit from the rushing moving population into Jerusalem in this yearly occasion and today they are closed to rest. Jerusalem temple is filled with devotees from near and far and the waves of pilgrims have taken over the streets of Jerusalem. Roman soldiers are constantly vigilant and watchful of the gatherings in maintaining law and order in the town. Temple guards and the temple leaders are busy in their routines in the service of pilgrims.

This year the paschal celebration was very different, which has made variety of experiences in the pilgrims’ heart. Some of them are shook in fear from the violence happened on Friday in the hills of Jerusalem. For some others business as usual as they are focused on their celebration. Some elites in the town are celebrating the victory over the Friday events, while others are lamenting from the pains inflicted by the death of the savior. Soldiers are extra vigilant and experiencing overtime and hard work to maintain peace in the town and to prevent riots from the Friday event, while commoners who are in pilgrimage from far, are busy in setting on journey back on their roads. Jerusalem streets are now becoming thin as people leave the town after the paschal festival.

In this background, the paschal celebration was very different for those who were near and dear to Jesus. They have lost their savior, shepherd, and friend. They are scattered in fear and seclusions in the threat of Roman capture. They are uncertain of their future as they have not yet come out of the shock and violence inflicted upon them in the crucifixion of Jesus on Friday. Many have not cared for food or rest. Apostles and disciples are in utter confusions over all the happenings around them, on which they have no reasoning or understandings. They were in the hands of terror and fear individually and as group. They could not leave the town and they could not relate to any in the fear of Roman soldiers. Situation is so volatile and precarious for all those who followed Jesus, if the roman soldiers come to know their where about, they will be captured to be punished or crucified. Pain from the death of Jesus is still raw while the threat of imminent arrest was very reality for all the apostles and disciples of Jesus on that Sunday.

Some of them were in the process of rationalizing the sequences of the events, while they could not forgive the acts of Judas’s betrayal, who was one among them. They were skeptical at each other in the aftermath events due to the betrayal of Judas. Some of them are discussing the Peter’s denials, while peter is working through his guilty of denials and drenched himself in tears. Some others were engulfed in the guilty of deserting Jesus at the arrest became and they became voiceless and speechless in the aftermath. There was confusion among them, they were scattered in fear hidden in a place. Some women went to the tomb to anoint Jesus body, when disciples did not go with them. Total in -coordination prevailed among them. In this fearful moment Jesus appeared in the midst of them and said, “Peace be with you.” Resurrected Lord’s first message is Peace. Peace is a symbol of resurrection, deliverance, and a new creation.

Concepts for reflection:

Peace is the good news
Peace is a Resurrection Lord's promise
Peace is a call
Peace is a choice
Peace is the Christ way of Life
Peace is a sign of Trinity's presence
Peace is a gift of holy Spirit
Living peace is the hallmark of discipleship

Arumugam, Annapoorna Mary, 2011