Peace be with you.
In today’s Gospel Jesus said to his Disciples: “Peace be with you.” After his Resurrection, Jesus greeted his Disciples with “Peace be with you”. A few simple words with tremendous meaning and healing.
What do we think of when we say “Peace”? We usually think of a time without war or fighting between nations, groups and even within families. But peace can also mean a sense of well-being within ourselves, our heart and soul.
Peace is elusive. Whether it is peace between nations, ethnic groups, families or even within our inner being. We see war all around us; Ukraine, Middle East, the political polarization within our country – regardless of which side we are on, between different cultural groups and even within our families.
But the most disconcerting perhaps is the war within us. Even with all the blessings and comforts of life that we have there is still a restlessness within us, we are still restless, lacking true peace. Saint Augustine of Hippo, a Doctor of the Church, wrote: “Great are you, O Lord, and exceedingly worthy of praise; your power is immense, and your wisdom beyond reckoning. And so we mortals, who are a due part of your creation, long to praise you – we also carry our mortality about with us, carry the evidence of our sin and with it the proof that you thwart the proud. You arouse us so that praising you may bring us joy, because you have made us and drawn us to yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”
Indeed, our soul is restless, at war with itself, until we rest in God.
Bishop Senior of Harrisburg wrote for Pentecost: “The Holy Spirit, the Advocate, is our helper and guide just as He was for the first Apostles. As Christians, we are all entrusted with the mission to spread the Gospel, each in our own way. In the Church, priests play a critical role in the work of evangelization.” While the Priests are given a special role, we too as laity must spread the Gospel, each in our own way. But how can we do that if we are restless within?
In today’s Gospel, Jesus said to them (the Apostles) again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit.”
Jesus then told the Apostles that the sins that they forgave would be forgiven and established for us the wonderful Sacrament of Penance. This sacrament has been handed down through the millennia from the Pope to the Bishops and from them to the Priests.
In the 51st Psalm, the Psalmist wrote: “My offenses truly I know them my sin is always before me.” When our souls are troubled and we are unable to find peace within because our sins are always before us, we can receive absolution for our sins through the Sacrament of Penance.
Many of you have recently received First Penance in preparation for your First Holy Communion. What a wonderful gift it is, and I pray that you will continue to go to Confession throughout your life for the peace it brings to you. In a few moments, Father will concentrate the bread and the wine, and it will become for us the Body and Blood of Jesus the Christ, our Lord and Savior. That is what sets us apart from all other religions.
When you will receive your First Holy Communion, you will receive the Body and Blood of Jesus into your body and soul. Receive these Sacraments of Penance and Holy Eucharist frequently throughout your life, and the Holy Spirit that Jesus will send to you, will grant you his peace.
