May 13 – Luke 24:36-53 – “While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” (Lk 24:36)
What great joy: one gift after another! Jesus is explaining the meaning of the Word about Himself, and He placed Himself in the center where they all could have equal access to Him. From these two realities – the Word and the presence of Jesus in the midst – come the ultimate gift: Peace, the presence of God in us. A cascade of wonders that become the most wonderful reality given to all.
As a disciple of Jesus, I must make sure that the Life that He offers is constantly nurtured by communion with Him in the Word, and in the Assembly, where He makes himself sacramentally available. This presence, then, is carried out everywhere I go, where two or more are gathered in His name. With the mind renewed and the heart enflamed with His presence, the gift of peace will become a reality not only for me but also for those who are around me. This is the life of those who follow the Risen Lord.