We all have been through a rough year! There is no need to recount here our losses and hardships suffered, because each and every one of us has been affected by the world’s circumstances. But in our Gospel reading from St. Luke this weekend, we are reminded of our Christian Hope that has gotten us through it all. Jesus appears to the disciples with the words, “Peace be with you. Why are you troubled?” His disciples were living this in real-time! They were confused—first He was dead and now He is alive! It didn’t make sense to them! What is going on??

BUT we know the WHOLE STORY—we know He rose from the dead! We know that He didn’t come to bring the kind of peace that the “hippies” of the 1960s were known for. He came to bring the Shalom of God—the peace that all people seek for in the deep parts of their hearts. A peace that is caring, sharing, forgiving, compassionate—a peace that is God, Himself! We know that Jesus is ALWAYS with us, just as He has promised to be. We can each look back on our lives (or even this past year) and remember times when we thought we could not get through a situation or circumstance—but we did get through it! Jesus walked with us every step of the way, and more often than not, we didn’t realize it until it was over. We wondered HOW did we ever get through it…and we realize that we got through it because we were not alone. Maybe you are going through a really rough patch right now and don’t know what to do or where to turn. Look to Jesus, Open your heart, Let Him come in. He will tell you,“ Peace be with you! Why are you troubled? I am here with you. I am not a ghost, we will walk this journey together! Have no fear!” His love for us comes from the heart of God himself. With God beside us, we can endure anything.—-Christian Hope!

Every time we go to Mass, we experience the breaking of the bread…His death…His love for us! Every time we receive Communion, we experience His Resurrection…within us…within our very souls! Every time we go to Mass we receive His commission to His disciples…and to each of us…to go out and share Him with the world—our world. We are sent to love as He loves, to give as He gave, to lay down our lives as He laid down His life. Remember we know the whole story!!! We can go and share the Peace of Christ with all we meet! We can live our Christian Hope in peace and without fear! He is truly with us!

Have a peaceful, hope-filled, blessed week!

(inspired by a writing by Fr. Henly)