Reflection from FaithND

Jesus offers the disciples the greeting, “Peace be with you,” three times. In the midst of the apostles’ uncertainty, the shattering of their dreams, the apparent waste of their three years following Christ, and their fear for their lives, Christ brings them peace. After their misunderstandings of his passion, their betrayal, and their ensuing fear, Christ does not come to destroy them, but to call them back again.

What does it mean to let Christ speak peace into being in our lives? The next line gives us a clue. Jesus says, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you”. Peace is not sitting content in our current state. Christ offers a dynamic and life-giving peace that is stronger than fear and impels us to bring the Gospel into the world, forgive others, and be blessed because we “have not seen and yet have come to believe”.

In this time of uncertainty, when death is more present to many of us than it was before, how do we believe without seeing the cure come as quickly as we want? How do we believe when we see loved ones and friends departing this world or grieving? I realized that I am not called merely to be resigned to “shelter at home” orders but to embrace with faith the challenges and sacrifices that come with it. I am still called to live on mission for the Gospel. In my senior year, I may have been sent from Notre Dame for the last time before I expected but not before Christ called me to a mission of peace here. Jesus invites us to live a life of peace in whatever place we find ourselves today. We are called to encounter those around us in the same words Christ did: “Peace be with you”.