This weekend’s Gospel (John 20:19-31) is full of many important events. We have the establishment of the Sacrament of Confession, we get the story of “doubting Thomas,” and we get John’s explanation about why he wrote his Gospel. Yet at the beginning of the Gospel, Jesus says, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” This is Jesus sending us, his Church, out into the world to both live out, and share, the Gospel message.
He doesn’t send us out to have a large bank account, to be beautiful, to have the perfect house. Jesus sends us out to spread the Gospel. Jesus live much of his life in obscurity, we don’t know what he did for most of his first 30 years. He told the world to love God, and love our neighbors (Matthew 7:12). He also told us to live out the beatitudes (Matthew 5:3–12). Jesus also trusted the plan of God to the point that he was betrayed, died on the cross, and was resurrected. While I hope none of you are betrayed or crucified, I do hope you can trust in God’s plan and share in His resurrection. Even when things get hard, remember that Jesus has commissioned you to go forth and spread the word.
So, Peace be with you.
