Devotion: Peace be with you
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” – John 20: 19-29
Today I am at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. I have a second eye surgery tomorrow morning. The journey of the last several weeks has been long and winding. I hope and pray that tomorrow’s will be my last surgery EVER.
‘Peace be with you,’ Jesus said.
My girlfriend of 20+ years just had a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. She has more cancer therapy to look forward to for some time to come.
‘Peace be with you,’ Jesus said.
The teenage daughter of a family friend is undergoing therapy for repeated suicide attempts.
‘Peace be with you,’ Jesus said.
Headlines of newspapers the world over continue to report war, investigations, corruption, refugees, hostages, accusations, poverty, destruction, death, …
‘Peace be with you,’ Jesus said.
Perhaps Jesus knew that our walk in this world would not be easy. Perhaps he knew that we would get in our own way sometimes. That the world would make us tired and frustrated and discouraged. And yet, in the midst of fear and disappointment and confusion, he says this to his disciples after their dreams have been destroyed.
Perhaps what we see today is not the whole story. Perhaps there is more to come. Perhaps there is another way. Perhaps we can take Jesus at this word of peace, with joy and hope.
I leave you with my favorite quote from a 14th century mystic, Julian of Norwich. Written after suffering with serious illness, her Revelations of Divine Love have inspired many seeking to know God..
‘All shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well.’ – Julian of Norwich.
May this be our prayer for today. Amen.