In the Gospel of John there is a wonderful Easter evening story. The disciples were frightened and protected themselves in a locked room. The story has two parts.
Part 1, "When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."
Part 2, "A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."
Their fear drove them into seclusion. Fear and anxiety have a way of doing that. We pull back from life. We hide. We lock the world out and ourselves in. We even try to lock God out. The world gets smaller and smaller.
On Easter Sunday eve Jesus broke through their isolation and met them cowering in the corner. His loving presence said, "Peace be with you." A week later, Thomas who had not been with them said he wasn't so sure. Again, Jesus broke through the wall of isolation and disbelief, "Peace be with you."
Last week I talked with someone who is in that corner of isolation and fear. I hoped that through our conversation, she might feel the loving presence of Christ, a love stronger than her fear..."Peace be with you."
Whether it is Easter evening, a week later, or 2000 years later, His "Peace be with you" brings strength and comfort to every one of us. He comes through the walls of isolation and meets us right where we are. |