The Gift of Peace and Forgiveness

It’s most likely that the disciples continued to meet in the upper room where the last supper had been held. But, they must have been filled with fear and terror. They knew the bitterness and the anger of the Jews who demanded the death of Jesus, and they were afraid that they would be next. They must have been listening to every sound, every footstep, every voice and whisper. As they sat there, fearful, hopeless, giving up—suddenly Jesus was with them!

And in the midst of their worry, their concerns, their problems and their difficulties, Jesus gives to his disciples, and he gives to us, this incredible gift of peace. Be very clear, He does not necessarily take away the pain, the questions and the fear, but He stays with them, and gives them strength and he gives them peace, in the midst of the storm of their fear and questions. And then Jesus gives the disciples the commission that the church must never forget.

“As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

The Good News of Jesus, his love, and his promise of New Life could never be taken to all men and women, unless his disciples, the community of the church, take on this missionary task. The church must be the mouth and words and example of Jesus. And we, each one of us, is “the Church.” To be missionary, to spread the news of Jesus, means that our lives our rooted in his life. Our love must be rooted in his love.

And then Jesus breathed on them and gave them the Holy Spirit. You see Resurrection and Pentecost are theologically linked, but liturgically a bit separated. There is no doubt that when St. John wrote these words, he was thinking back to the story of creation, “the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.”

And finally, Jesus proclaims what must be central to our lives. For all of his life, he talked of love, but perhaps Jesus understood best that the heart of love means forgiving, and forgiving, and forgiving, and when you no longer think you can forgive, forgive again and then equally as important allowing yourself to be forgiven, again and again.

I’m always amazed that in all the accounts of the resurrection, Jesus never refers back to the betrayal, abandonment and denial he experience from his closest friends and disciples. He only offers his endless gift of peace and forgiveness.

Just in case you don’t understand what this forgiveness really means, Jesus gives us an example. It the gospel today, we have the familiar story about “Doubting Thomas.” Poor Thomas certainly has had a bad reputation for almost 2000 years. However, if we really consider the situation, he probably doesn’t deserve all of the criticism he has received.

You see, Thomas wasn’t alone. Judas doubted. Peter doubted. Thomas doubted. And if I am honest with you, there are times in my own life that I too, doubt. I am overwhelmed, frightened, discouraged, angry, and like Thomas, I want to run, to shut the doors, and hide, and I doubt and question whether God is really with me.

But today the good news of the Gospel reminds me, and you, that even in our doubts, even in our fear and questions, Jesus comes into all of the ‘closed doors’ of our lives, and offers the gift of peace and forgiveness, he offers to be with us.

Jesus needs you. We certainly need Jesus. And to continue our discipleship, we must throw open the closed doors of our lives: forgive, be forgiven…and spread the news.