"God of love, listen to the prayers of your people gathered to celebrate the resurrection of your Son.  We look forward to that day when Easter peace will spread throughout the world.  Grant our prayer through Jesus Christ, the risen one, who is Lord forever and ever.  Amen."  This was the concluding prayer to the Prayer of the Faithful we used at Mass beginning last Sunday through the 9:00 AM Mass this past Saturday.  What struck me was the sentence, "We look forward to that day when Easter peace will spread throughout the world."  The spread of Easter peace began with the appearances of Jesus to his followers after his resurrection.  When Jesus appeared to his apostles in last week’s gospel the first thing he said to them was, "Peace be with you."  There were so many things he could have said from a human point of view: "Where were you when I was arrested?"  Why didn’t you speak up for me, you knew I was innocent?"  "You said you believed in me, but when difficulties arose you abandoned me."  But Jesus did not say those words.  His words were, "Peace be with you." 

This simple phrase from the Risen Christ is the foundation and beginning of Easter peace.  These fifty days until Pentecost are a gift to us to strengthen our awareness of what this peace is all about and how it is present in and through us.  We all want peace in our lives and in our world.  In the resurrected Christ we see the power that brings that peace.  When Jesus rose he conquered sin and death.  He conquered all the obstacles to peace.  Do we really believe that?nbsp; The last thing that comes to our minds at times is peace.  When people do something that hurts or upsets us we tend to protect ourselves and then try to get even.  Jesus did not try to protect himself from the lack of courage and support from his disciples.  And when they failed he still loved them.  He did not come back to punish them or to satisfy the hunger we feel at times for revenge.  Jesus was not self righteous toward them.  From his heart he wished them his peace.  It is only that peace, followed by the reception of the Holy Spirit that gave the apostles the courage to rise above what others thought about their belief in and association with Jesus.  Filled with the Easter peace that comes from faith in God’s loving presence and mercy in Jesus, they went out into the world that crucified Jesus and continued his work.  Our presence in the Church is a testimony to how that Easter peace has nurtured those who believe throughout the history of the Church.

The question for us is, "How operative is Easter peace in our lives?"  Do we really believe Jesus sees the goodness and love in us as he saw the goodness and love in his apostles? That is the first step to experiencing Easter peace in our lives.  Belief in this merciful, unconditional love is the foundation of our faith and a building block for peace in our lives.  Like the apostles who believed and allowed themselves to be given life and direction by God’s Spirit, we can rise above the negative feelings and reactions we are tempted to give in to and respond with goodness, love and mercy.  Our world and society cautions us that this is a naive and unrealistic response.  But the course of human history has proven over and over again that misunderstandings and disagreements are not settled with animosity and violence, but with justice that is founded on God’s unconditional love and mercy.  That is Easter peace!

In today’s gospel we see the patience of Jesus with two of his disciples who do not recognize him after his resurrection. It is only in the breaking of the bread that it becomes obvious who he is.  Even though they did not recognize him at first, their hearts were burning just by being in his presence.  We come to Mass where the bread is broken and Jesus gives himself to us.  Before communion we say, "Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed."  It is his word that brings healing and Easter peace.  That is the peace that puts hope and joy in our hearts along with the desire and courage to live fully the new, resurrected life Jesus shares with us in baptism and nurtures within us every time we come to celebrate the Eucharist.  How blessed we are to be part of his life and Easter peace.

Father Walden