Homily for Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday) - April 3, 2016

Homily for April 3, 2016

Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday)

Peace I Give You

 

            Recently I saw the movie “Risen” which was out in theaters this past Lent. It’s about a Roman soldier who is given the task of finding the risen Body of Jesus. At the beginning of the movie, the soldier is relaxing with Pontius Pilate after a long day of battles and crucifixions. Pilate asks the young soldier what he wants out of life. “I want to go to Rome. Rise up in the world,” he responds. “And then what?” Pilate asks. “Then become wealthy. Have a house in the country. A wife, a son.” he responds. But Pilate presses further, “And that brings what?” The soldier sighs, weary from battle and from all the blood he has spilled. “It will bring peace.”

            Do YOU want peace? Are you tired of the troubles and struggles, of constantly feeling overwhelmed or unsettled? Desiring peace is a pretty fundamental human desire. But how do we obtain inner peace?

            We search for peace in all kinds of ways. Some people take a vacation, hoping that will bring them peace. Some look for it in the little pleasures of life, which take our mind off our troubles. Some turn to Buddhist meditation or yoga to try to find some inner tranquility.

            But peace is precisely the gift that Jesus gives His Apostles. Think about their inner turmoil – they had just seen their Lord crucified, while they had all run and hid. They must have felt such a complicated stew of emotions: confusion about the future, shame for their cowardice, horror at the bloody death of Jesus. And then, on Easter Sunday night, Jesus appears in their midst and says, “Peace – Peace be with you.”

            Peace is not the absence of conflict. Peace is the presence of Jesus.

            The Apostles’ problems were still there, but they were put into perspective because they were overcome with joy at seeing the Lord Jesus. They had Jesus in the midst of them, what more did they need to fear?

            So, if you are looking for peace, have you tried looking to the Lord? A couple weeks ago in my confirmation class we were discussing different ways to pray, such as the Rosary and Adoration, and I asked the kids if they thought they could be silent for 10 minutes per day – no phone, no iPod, just silence. One girl was horrified – losing her iPhone was more traumatic than the thought of losing a limb! I asked her why she didn’t think she could do it, and her response struck me. She said, “I could never be silent for 10 minutes…I’d be afraid of what I’d hear.” All of her worries, cares, fears, guilt would come to mind if she was silent, so she constantly felt like she had to distract herself with technology and noise so she didn’t hear her problems. But I told her – invite Jesus Christ into that turmoil. Invite Him in and allow Him to set your heart at peace.

            But we cannot have peace if we are not at peace with God, which is why right after Jesus gives His Apostles the gift of peace, He then gives them the gift to forgive sins. When we are not at peace with God – in other words, if we are living lives of unrepentant and unconfessed sin – then we will not have inner peace.

            Once reconciled to God, we will find peace. Just read the Acts of the Apostles to see how the Apostles kept their peace throughout immense struggles – Paul, for example, was shipwrecked, stoned, beaten, starved, imprisoned multiple times, betrayed by his friends, and finally beheaded, but was still able to write to the Philippians, “Let the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and minds.” He had Christ’s peace within him, and nothing could shake that peace.

            So, do you want to have peace? First, get right with God – rid yourself of unrepentant sin through God’s great gift of Confession. Today is Divine Mercy Sunday, the day on which we focus on God’s mercy – so if you have been wrestling with inner turmoil because of sin, today is a good day to lay down that burden. Second, entrust your life to Christ in faith. When you turn your problems over to Him, trusting that He will take care of them – then you will have greater peace. At the bottom of the Divine Mercy image is the beautiful phrase, “Jesus, I trust in You.” Pray that prayer often, especially in times of difficulty!

            Peace is indeed a great gift, which Jesus gave to His Apostles. And it’s a gift that God wants to give to you. Get right with God, and begin to trust Him – and you will find peace.