Gospel Reflection for Sunday 26th May

The 6th Sunday of Easter

Gifts from the Risen Lord…

As we continue our journey through the sacred season of Easter, the gospel this Sunday describes another appearance by the Risen Lord to his friends. We are approaching the climax of Easter at Pentecost; the Feast of the Holy Spirit which we will celebrate in two weeks. But before that he clearly tells them that God will send the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ name.

The Holy Spirit

The purpose of the Holy Spirit is to encourage and teach the disciples and to remind them of everything  that Jesus said and taught them. They are going to have the remember all this, because very soon, Jesus is going to entrust them with the mission of carrying on his work of proclaiming and promoting the Kingdom of God. They are not the only ones who have received this lifegiving gift; at our baptism and confirmation each one of us was blessed, anointed and filled with the same Holy Spirit.

And, just like those in the gospel, we too have been entrusted with the responsibility of carrying on the mission and mission of Jesus in our time today

The Gift of Peace

But this is not the only gift that the Risen Jesus gives us; the second gift is peace. Jesus very quickly tells those in the gospel and us that this is not just ordinary peace; it is not the peace the world offers. Peace can be understood as lack of noise or the absence of war. History teaches that some consider peace to be the victory gained after the fighting stops. At the time of Jesus, there was a thing called the Pax Romana – ‘The Roman Peace.’

This was a long period of peace and stability experienced by everyone in the empire. However, this came at a very high price: being under the power and control of Roman soldiers and emperors. So, no, Jesus’s peace is not like that given by the world or the by the Romans.

Be A Peacemaker

The peace the risen Lord wishes and offers us is the gift of inner peace; to be at peace with oneself, others, the world around us and God. The distinguishing  mark of a follower of Jesus is this peace. As followers of Jesus we are given this peace freely and we are asked to live by it and share it with those around us.

At mass, we even use the very words of Jesus when we say ‘Peace be with you.’ But the greater challenge is that we leave mass and bring this peace with us. We are called to be peacemakers whenever and wherever we possibly can; in our homes, our communities, schools and places of work

In our modern world that is often scarred by anger, violence and war, we are called to people of peace; not the peace the world offers, but the peace of the Risen Jesus.

This coming, let us look out for opportunities to offer each the sign of peace through what say, what do and how we treat each other. Peace be with you!