We know that after the Crucifixion the Apostles were afraid that they were in danger of meeting the same horrible fate as their Master. They knew that Jesus said that all this would happen; they knew that He rose on Easter morning - They saw the empty tomb. Yet in this week's Gospel reading, at evening time they were in hiding behind locked doors: "for fear of the Jews.".
Jesus came and stood in there midst saying "Peace be to you." Perhaps "Peace be to you." was (and still is) a common greeting. But I would like to offer for your consideration that possibly, in this instance it was so much more than a simple greeting. Jesus conquered sin and death. He is the answer to every doubt, every fear, indeed every challenge to one's courage. Peace - True Peace - is not a feeling, not an absence of strife, but a relationship with God. It is marked by an ineffable inward sense of completeness or wholeness. Perhaps this "Peace be to you." was not an expression of a wish that they be at peace, but an actual gift; from our God - who won the victory and the right to bestow that Peace on whomever He wishes.
Perhaps it is Jesus saying "I have redeemed you and restored that wholeness that was lost." or "I have restored your relationship with God." Perhaps this "peace be with you" can be understood as "I am God with you."
May you know that Peace which Jesus gives us!
+ Theophilus
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