“Peace Be With You”
Acts 3:12-19
1 John 3:1-3
Luke 24:36b-48
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O God, our strength and our redeemer. AMEN
One thing I love about this time of year – in these weeks following Easter Sunday – is the emphasis in the scriptures on the Risen Christ and the ways in which the disciples, and Jesus’ other followers, try to make some sense out of what Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection means for them as they move forward.
I like being reminded of the disciples’ grappling with the big questions, because isn’t that what we are still doing 2000 years later? Grappling with the big questions?
Over the past few years, two different study groups here at DCC – both the Wednesday night group and the WORD group – read and discussed the book, “The Meaning of Jesus.”
The book, “The Meaning of Jesus,” was co-written by two different biblical scholars – the late Marcus Borg, a progressive theologian whose name I know many of you recognize, and N.T. Wright, a conservative theologian.
In the book, each of the two authors share their beliefs regarding Jesus and the big questions of faith – so, one from a more traditional, conservative, and literal theological lens, and the other from a more progressive, metaphorical theological lens.
I appreciate so much that these two scholars, who hold very different beliefs regarding the meaning of Jesus in their lives, were good friends, were respectful of each other’s views, and sought to challenge their readers to do some serious reflection in their own lives about the meaning of Jesus.
One of the questions we addressed as we studied the book, “The Meaning of Jesus” was this: Do you believe that Jesus’ life – how he lived and what he taught – is most significant – or do you believe that Jesus’ death and resurrection hold the most significance for us as Christians?
While that question is good food for thought, my opinion is that not only is there no single answer to that question, it doesn’t have to be an either/or question but rather a both/and.
I believe that in order to embrace the significance of Jesus for us in this day and time, there is much to be learned from both his life as well as his death and resurrection.
In our Gospel passage for today, I love that when Jesus appears, post-resurrection, to the disciples, his very first words to them are “Peace be with you.”
In the midst of the disciples’ fear and apprehension and anxiety, Jesus begins by offering them peace.
But when they continue to be doubtful and afraid, Jesus next offers them visual “proof” of his identity – he shows them the marks of crucifixion on his hands and feet, and then asks for a piece of fish which he eats in their presence.
Next, the scripture says that Jesus “opened their minds” to understand that what had been written by the prophets had come to pass – the Messiah was to suffer and die but would rise from the dead on the third day.
Finally, Jesus proclaims to the disciples that they are “witnesses to these things.”
And so, on this third Sunday of Easter, we are given the opportunity to reflect on the ways in which we, too, are witnesses to the risen Christ and to moments of peace in our own lives.
After the year that we have had, with the continuing effects of the pandemic and the ongoing struggle for racial justice, I am grateful to be reminded that new life is always possible. It may not come in the way we hoped for or pictured, but what God wills for us is peace, in whatever form that may take.
Let me share a brief story. I actually wrote about this in last month’s Messenger newsletter article.
When I wrote my Messenger article, I had just had my first vaccine shot. I have since had my second shot, and both experiences were similar.
Both shots were given through Ohio Health at a large building down near Riverside Hospital. In both instances, hundreds of people were being quickly and efficiently walked through the process by smiling and friendly health care workers, and in both cases, there was a celebratory feel, emphasized by the playing of upbeat music over the sound system with people literally dancing around in response.
There was such an overall feeling of new life and of resurrection, that I couldn’t help but feel hopeful as I left my appointment -hopeful that we are finally turning a corner and moving forward together.
OK, I know that we still have a long way to go as a nation, on so many levels. But in the midst of our fear and confusion, like those disciples so long ago, Jesus comes to us, offering words of assurance that even in the darkest times, new life is possible.
What I wish for all of us is the peace of Christ, now and always.
May peace be with you.
AMEN