You're in the room with the disciples enjoying the great celebration. hen the shouting dies down, Jesus, smiling, speaks his blessing upon us again: "Peace be with you."
Those are such welcome words. Of all the things you want, peace is the one. Peace of mind. Peace of heart.
You want peace way down deep inside you, the apart of you where only you can go. And when Jesus speaks this blessing upon you, it's not simply a wish - like, "Have a good day." it is a statement of fact, an assured blessing. (If Jesus were to say "Have a good day," he wouldn't be withing me a good day. He'g be giving me one.)
So, when Jesus says to us, "Peace be with you," he is giving us the gift of inner peace. What a gift.
One of the disciples nudges me and says, "Three days ago, right here at the supper table, Jesus told us he would do this, but we didn't understand. He said, 'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you.' Now it makes sense."
Then, having equipped us with peace, Jesus sends us to be fashioners of peace, peacemakers, just as the Father sent him.
The room is very quiet. The gift of peace has made us peaceful.
You're all thinking about people and places where you can be peacemakers.
- Little White Book, Diocese of Saginaw