Every year, the same lesson is read for the Sunday after Easter. Last year, on the second Sunday in Easter, I preached on Thomas and the four things that he missed out on by not being there on that first Sunday when Jesus appeared to the disciples the upper room. Those four things were affirmation, affirmation of the resurrection that Jesus was alive. Second was the peace that Jesus offers. Third was the sending out of the disciples; and the fourth was receiving the Holy Spirit. This year, I want to focus on the peace that Jesus brings into our lives.
The gospel lesson says: “the disciples were locked away for fear of the Jews.” And Jesus appears among them saying, “Peace be with you.” I know that the disciples needed that message then, and I know that I need that message now. I need the reality of His peace in my life right now. And I know that I am not the only one.
The Very Rev. Kate Moorehead, Dean of St. John’s Cathedral in Jacksonville, Florida, wrote a sermon focusing on “that day” - “When it was evening on that day... the first day of the week” - that day when everything changed. That day may be a very different day for each of us. It might be the day we graduated from college, or the day we married that special person, or that day when a loved one died. It might be that day when you got that special job or opportunity, or that day when your child was born. Or it might be that day when you were diagnosed with cancer - . . . It was the day when everything changed...
That day was the day - when the risen Lord came into their lives offering peace; the peace that passes understanding; the peace that takes away fear and apprehension; the peace that allows you to go on. For the disciples, this was the difference between hiding away in that upper room for fear of the Jews, and being able to go out and tell the story of the risen Lord with boldness. It didn’t happen all at once - but over a period of 50 days, from the first day of the Resurrection until the day of Pentecost. It was in living d growing into that peace and the power of the risen Lord that the disciples became bold witnesses to the gospel. Now, how do we tie into that kind of power and peace?
Over the past 3 days, I have had to admit that I am very anxious - not about the cancer - I know that God will take care of it in his own way, very probably using those people who have offered up their lives to help others overcome disease and injury - the doctors and nurses, the medical personnel. I’m not worried about the cancer. What I find myself worried about are the procedures themselves. To be honest, I don’t like pain or even the prospect of pain. I don’t like to go to the dentist - although I have a great dentist - just the shot to deaden my mouth and the recovery from that, makes me wish I were somewhere else. I suppose if the cancer was far enough along to cause me pain, I wouldn’t be so worried about the procedures.
And God has been so very gracious - at every step of the way, but there you have it - I’m afraid. I would beg your prayers - that our Lord Jesus sooth my anxious fears and give me the same confidence that he gave to the disciples in that upper room so many years ago. I have been using my meditation techniques to help overcome my anxious mind and by tying into scripture such as -
“I can do all things through God who strengthens me...”
“Lord, you do not give me anything that you and I together cannot handle...”
“Lord, give me your peace that passes understanding, and take away my anxious fears...”
You see, Satan tries to distract us from God’s love and goodness, by placing small doubts and fears in our minds. It is in overcoming them with the promises of God that we are given the strength to move past them into the future that God has prepared for us. It is when we are at our lowest point, that Jesus shows up - and everything changes. “Peace be with you. My peace I give to you.” He soothed the anxious fears of the disciples that day in the upper room, and he can soothe our fears also.
One of Fr. Fred’s heroes was Julian of Norwich, an anchorite who lived in the presence of God. In one of her encounters with the risen Lord Jesus, he gave her this message: “All will be well, and all will be well, and all manner of things will be well.” It is a message in which we understand that God created all things, and he holds them in the palm of his hand. We belong to him and if we allow him to, he will take care of us.
I’m reminded of one of my favorite movies, “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.” Dev Patel plays the part of Sonny Kapoor, the owner of the hotel. His favorite saying is “Everything will be alright in the end. If it is not alright, then it is not yet the end.” - “All will be well, and all will be well, and all manner of things will be well.”
Our Lord Jesus comes to us at out lowest point, and tells us, “Peace be with you... My own peace I leave with you.” It is the peace that passes understanding, that takes away our fear. It is when Jesus tells us, “Don’t worry. I’ve got this! I’ve got you!” Amen.
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