As a child—I think it was because I had such a vivid imagination—I
seemed to be afraid of almost everything. Maybe it’s because
of that, but today I hate to see anyone afraid. Sadly at the
moment there are many people living in fear, especially fear of not
being able to cope or provide for their families because of all that
is happening. It is very understandable and yet it is also one
thing that God does not want for us. 365 times in the
Scriptures are the words ‘Do not be afraid.’ God wants us
to be at peace.
2000 years ago on Holy Thursday night, out of fear the Apostles all
abandoned Jesus, even though they believed He was the Son of God.
Judas betrayed him for money. Peter tried to be faithful, but
ended up publicly swearing that he never knew Jesus. They all
betrayed him. Now after Easter they are locked in the upper
room in fear. They were afraid first because they knew they
could face the same punishment as Jesus since they were his
associates. Perhaps they were also afraid of what God might do
to them because they had betrayed Jesus, the Son of God. It is
a very human response to be afraid of God when we feel we have
betrayed him in some way, by the way we live, or by something we have
done.
Then something beautiful happens. Jesus is suddenly standing
with them in the room and he says: ‘Peace be with you.’ The
first thing he does is take away their fear. There are no words
of condemnation for having abandoned him a few days before.
There are no words of judgement on how they were unable to be
faithful. Instead: ‘Peace be with you.’ ‘It’s
alright.’
I don’t know about you, but I can certainly say that I have often
felt that I have betrayed the Lord by my actions. Sometimes I
even wish I was not a priest, because then I would not have to deal
with what is sacred. It is difficult to have to deal with the
sacred when you are aware that you are a sinner. It is easier
to run and hide. Think of Peter when Jesus worked the miracle
of the great catch of fish. Peter’s reaction was, ‘Leave me
Lord I am a sinful man.’ Yet when Jesus appears to the
Apostles, the first thing He does is to put them at ease.
‘Peace be with you.’
Each time in the mass when we recall this wish of Jesus to give us
his peace—which is not just a universal prayer for peace, but a
reminder of what Jesus said to his followers—He is saying, ‘do
not be afraid, because I am not here to condemn you, even if you
deserve to be condemned. Peace be with you.’ God only
wants us to come closer to him and to know that He is not going to
act as we do to each other, with frowns or giving out. He knows
what we are like. He knows that we betray him, but He still
tells us to be at peace. I for one, find that very comforting.
Think too of Thomas who in his grief at the death of Jesus would not
believe the words of others that Jesus was alive. When you are
grieving you don’t want someone else to give you false hope,
because it is too painful. And then when Jesus did appear to
him He was so kind in helping him to believe. No giving out,
but instead Jesus offered Thomas to put his finger into his wounds,
so that he would believe. No condemnation for not being good
enough; only encouragement.
In this gospel Jesus also gives his disciples the authority to
forgive sins in his name. Why? So that we need not ever be
living in fear of God. Through the priesthood we have the
concrete reassurance of God’s mercy and forgiveness, so that we can
move on when we have done wrong; so that we need not live in fear.
No condemnation, only encouragement and love.
Peace be with you. Do not be afraid.
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