Consoling Presence

Today’s Gospel Text:  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: The consoling words of a loved one is always a great blessing and can have a great  transforming effect in our lives, especially from the immediate impediments, or the trial and troubles of life.

What is much more beautiful is; when we close our doors to others, especially to those who are sincerely interested in our well being and in spite of the closed door they still sneak in to reach out to us.

This is what Jesus has done to the dedicated Disciples, who in their moment of fears, especially of the Jews, close the door for anyone to enter in and allow themselves to be reached out to.

Yet Jesus still comes to them and reaches out to them with the sure hope of life: “Peace be with you”.

It is a passage which should constantly speak to each one of us, in our hearts, that Christ Jesus our Lord is with us right from the beginning, even during the first day of the week, with his presence.

No matter what trials or troubles we may go through, whether it concerns the trials of temptations in which we are often angry with ourselves, or with others, the guilt or the shame of life, in such situations we may often want to keep the door our hearts closed and would prefer to cry over it alone in order to resolve the issue.

Jesus can reach out to us even if we are locked within the four walls of a room with no windows or doors but the important question remains:

Will we recognize his presence and allow him to proclaim that peace that is able to save us? 

In other words; when he proclaims the peace will we believe that he will be able to bring about a change in the situation.

His peace is what we need to hold on to, at any cost! 

If we believe than nothing is impossible with God and even if the God of all possibilities may not act the way we would want him to act nevertheless he will have a better offer to give us in himself.

Prayer:  When I thought, "My foot slips,"thy steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, thy consolations cheer my soul. Ps 94:18-19

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us