Location: St. Mary’s University
Young women and men, “Peace be with you!” The Lord’s greeting to his disciples “Peace be with you,” embodies the essence of our salvation. Who among you, after being vilified and attacked, can return a blessing? That is precisely what Jesus did. His physical presence among those who abandoned him at his most pressing moment brings them reconciliation and peace. Instead of returning to claim retribution, the Son of God rose again to forgive the world for having tortured the Author of Life to death.
The wounds and scars on the Lord’s resurrected body serve as a material reminder of his sacrifice. The disciples gave Jesus “a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of them.” His presence is physically real then as it is here and now, at the Eucharist. The Lord shows them his scars and invites them to touch him.
Despite the initial hesitation and disbelief of the disciples, Jesus’ presence ultimately convinces them of the reality of his resurrection. The wounds of unbelief in their hearts are healed by the encounter with the Lord’s physical presence.
As Pope Francis has said, “The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy is constantly born anew.” Do you believe this? Jesus strengthens the faith of the disciples, as he wants to strengthen us today. He leads us to a deeper understanding of the Scriptures and the fulfillment of prophecies regarding his suffering, death, and resurrection. The Lord urges us to elevate our thoughts from earthly concerns to heavenly matters. Jesus wants to transform and renew us, after the likeness of his own resurrection.
The power of faith to overcome doubt and persecution, ultimately leads to the expansion of our faith in the world. The Church grows as the proclamation of the Gospel takes believers to the ends of the earth.
Jesus leads us to spread the message of salvation to the world. We are called to be the outreach of the transformative power of encountering the risen Christ. The disciples initially saw only the Head of the Church, Jesus. However, the Lord promised them the rise of his Body, the Church, throughout all nations. Christ and the Church share an intimate and unbreakable relationship. Wherever Jesus is, there is his Church. In fulfillment of the promise of the Lord, the Holy Spirit makes Christ present in the world through the Church, by the sign of the people gathered around the successors to the apostles, first witnesses of the resurrection.
The joy of our faith lies in the physical presence of Jesus among us, despite our imperfections and ongoing growth. The Church, represented in the Eucharistic assembly, is the instrument for the Holy Spirit to make Jesus physically present in our midst. As we receive the Lord’s greeting of peace, we are comforted with the assurance of his unfailing presence. Christ is the foundation of the building; we are his living stones. There is unity and completeness between the Lord’s presence and his Church, as we work to extend the greeting of his living presence everywhere we go and to everyone we encounter. The living presence of Jesus continues to be built through us, through you!
In the end, when believers are resurrected through the testimony of their lives, through the fulfillment of the Lord’s commandments, all will be well through Christ. Believe and let yourself be lifted up by Jesus! May Our Lady of Guadalupe comfort and encourage us.
