“Peace be with you!”
Dear Friends,
This is the first Easter greeting from the Resurrected Lord to His fearful and closed community of disciples, in a locked room due to all sorts of fear.
We may reflect on our own fearful and confusing situations, for in them the ever-living presence of the resurrected Lord encourages us to receive His forgiveness, comfort and guidance. With this statement of ‘Peace be with you', Jesus reveals Himself as the 'Prince of Peace’ in the world. Obviously, Jesus’ greeting gave His disciples an inner peace with which to face their challenging life situations. Isaiah prophesised that He was the Prince of Peace, and the Angels sang during Jesus’ birth ‘Peace to those on whom His favours rests’ (Luke 2:14). Jesus in His ‘Sermon on the Mount’ said, “Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they will be called Children of God” (Mathew 5:9). And, at the last supper with His disciples he said “Peace I leave with you; my Peace I give to you” (John 14:27).
Jesus’ Easter greetings revived the disciples so they were ‘revamped’ in their lives, and had more love, hope and faith in Jesus as Resurrected Lord. As we are surrounded by many confusing messages and life situations in our day-to-day life in this pandemic, I do hope and pray that the Resurrected Lord, who knows our exact life situation, may enable us to revive our life on this Easter Day.
May we be strengthened within ourselves, just as the disciples were when Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”. He is saying the same greeting to each of us, “Peace be with you!”
I am preparing Tania Jeyarajah to be confirmed by Revd. Singa Vunipola at the Easter Service. Your prayers for her will be much appreciated
I would like to conclude with the following Gaelic blessings on this Easter Sunday:
Deep peace of the running wave to you
Deep peace of the flowing air to you
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you
Deep peace of the shining stars to you
Deep peace of the gentle night to you
Moon and stars pour their healing light on you
Deep peace of Christ the light of the world to you
Deep peace of Christ to you
Wishing you all a blessed and Happy Easter !
In His Service
Revd Jessie Anand
Minister, LTCC 17th April 2022