To watch Fr. Joe’s homily from the 3rd Sunday of Easter: CLICK HERE!
“And the two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way, and how Jesus was made know to them in the breaking of the bread”.
If we think about it, we interpret most things from a limited point of view. For instance I heard this observation this morning: When we are driving our car, everybody driving slower than you is an idiot and everybody driving faster than you is a maniac. Interestingly, nobody is driving at the speed you are.
We see in Luke’s Gospel that Jesus transformed his Disciples concern and fear to hope by opening their minds to understanding the Scriptures, not from their perspective, but from His.
And so the Disciples began to re-interpret not only their faith, but their entire way of living.
Consider Jesus’ greeting of peace in today’s gospel. Easter peace is nothing like our understanding of peace.
We often settle for peace that is merely the absence of conflict, peace that settles for nothing bad happening, peace that is equated with the status quo… but too often fear and tension lie just below the surface for such peace.
True peace is rooted in the gospel of justice and mercy. Christ’s peace is realized when all are respected and honored as brothers and sisters in light of the Risen Christ.
Just maybe respect is exactly what is missing in many of the tensions that we hear about in our world today. Many of the interactions people have with one another.
And talk about an act of respect that I am sure many saw last Sunday at the conclusion of the Master’s Golf Tournament. When the last golfers had left the 18th green, the caddy for Hideki Matsuyama placed the flagstick back into the hole. He then took a step back and reverently bowed in honor and respect for the Augusta Golf Course.
Thomas Merton once wrote regarding peace, “instead of loving what you think is peace, love others and love God above all. If you love peace, then hate injustice, hate tyranny, hate greed. But hate these things in yourself, not in another.”
So my friends, may we grow in being witnesses of Christ’s peace in our families and communities, our churches, schools and workplaces and may the work of peace continue as we grow in coming to know the Lord more and more in the scriptures and in the breaking of the bread (Eucharist), as we continue on our way of life and faith.