From the Friars: May the Lord Give You His Peace
The first thing that Our Lord said to His disciples after rising from the dead was: “peace be with you.” He then proceeded to give the twelve newly ordained first priests of the Church the power to forgive sins. The connection is clear. The person whose sins are forgiven is at peace with God. Just as someone who is living in a state of mortal sin cannot have true peace in their hearts. However, it is also true that hardened sinners can deaden their conscience to the point where they no longer feel any compunction for the evil they do. On this Divine Mercy Sunday let us pray especially for them.
In this Jubilee Year of St. Francis, we recall also the greeting that Jesus Himself gave to the great saint from Assisi: “may the Lord give you His Peace.” Again, the first step would be a reconciliation with Our Heavenly Father through Baptism or Confession. And there is no peace like that which comes from being right with God. It is like the relief of a drowning man pulled into a lifeboat after a shipwreck. But this joy of finding safe harbor is only the beginning. Now begins the paradoxical battle for a greater peace, which only ends with our final entry into the eternal rest of the Kingdom. The peace of Christ is a mountain whose summit is a mystery with depths beyond our understanding.
The Jubilee Year was declared to remember the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ death. As he lay dying, he asked to be placed naked on the ground for the time it takes to walk a mile. He was a charismatic man with a flare for dramatic gestures. But he wished to show his deep union with his crucified Lord. The peace the saint would now enjoy is that of one who hears those glorious words: “well done, good and faithful servant,” the rest of one who had completely spent himself for God’s glory and the good of others.
This is the peace that Jesus wants for all of us, the peace we pray for at every Holy Mass.
On this holy octave day, let us renew our fight against any obstacles to our full sharing in the peace and glory of our risen Lord. Alleluia!
–Fr. Peter