Peace of Jesus

Scripture/Bible: On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." John 20:19-23

Reflection:  Schooling a little child means education, its educating the child in order to achieve the higher goals of life, through a gradual process, as desired by the parents or later left open for the child to decide.  Likewise we as grownups who are not used to a certain regimen will first warm up rather than jump headlong into it. 

God too in all patience reveals himself gradually to us because we by nature can’t take much of what he has in store for us for our growth and development.  Only a proud man thinks that he knows and has it all.

In the gospel text we find Jesus, quite strangely, wishing his Disciples peace twice in one single encounter.  This is rather a strange act on the part of the risen Christ.

Unless we enjoy Gods peace we cannot be open to the revelation of Christ.  Let God wish us peace and let us receive from his presence and not through our labor or through any worldly or corrupt spiritual techniques. This peace is accomplished in us through the forgiveness of sins. 


In other words; forgiveness of sins brings his peace and his peace enables us to receive his revelation in a greater measure. 

If we adopt a methodology of the world, which includes any type of spirituality that is not Christian in origin then we tread a dangerous path. The Catholic Church has a rich tradition of contemplative spiritualities which have gone through the test of fire in the furnace of purification. 


The methodology of the world gives us its own peace and this peace makes us open to the wisdom of the world which is foolishness in God's sight. 

The way in which Jesus prepares his disciple shows a clear indication that this peace is brought about through the forgiveness of sins and not through any mantra and meditation or suppressing the guilt in one’s conscience.

Prayer:  Lord, speak to my heart as I seek you face each day and forgive me my many iniquities so that I may enjoy your peace and through your constant revelation find growth. 

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