TOPIC: PEACE BE WITH YOU
2C EASTER HOMILY, JOHN 20:19-31, April 24, 2022
1. STORY
This story was told by a Chinese
student. The students were excited because the university finally found a
French teacher. It was mandatory to study a second language in order to
graduate. On the day of the first French class, the new French teacher, an old man with white hair, walked in very slowly. He stood in front of the class and in a
shuttering voice said, “Students, forgive me for I have not spoken to humans in
nearly 30 years. My name is Chan.” There was dead silence in the class. One
student asked, “Whom have you been talking to?” “God,” he said. All laughed as
religion had been banned since 1949. “Where
have you been talking to God?” “In prison,” another short and labored answer.
All remained silent for the rest of the class. Fr. Chan went to prison because
he was a Catholic priest. He was locked up in a cell for most of these years.
His strong belief in God kept him alive.
2. GOSPEL, JOHN 20, 19-31
A. PEACE BE WITH YOU.
The first time Jesus met all the
apostles after his death and resurrection, he greeted them with “Peace be
with you.” Jesus could have greeted them with anger as they deserted him in the
hour of his greatest need. But he did not.
B. BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HAVE NOT
SEEN AND HAVE BELIEVED. i) Thomas would only believe if he touched the body of
Jesus.
ii) Jesus appeared to him, greeted
him with peace, and permitted him to touch him. Finally, he believed.
iii) Jesus tells us of the great
importance of faith in him. “Blessed are those who have not seen and have
believed.”
3. APPLICATION TO LIFE
A. PEACE BE WITH YOU.
i) Jesus wants us to
have peace in our lives. At each Mass we greet each other with the
sign of peace.
ii) We have the mission to
bring peace to others.
iii) We are peacemakers by being kind
in word, respectful in attitude, and forgiving to those who have offended us.
We follow the example of Jesus.
B. BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO BELIEVE.
i) Faith in Jesus is the foundation
of peace.
ii) Jesus loves us so much that he
gave his life to save us. We must grow in our understanding of Jesus. He is
always with us to help us.
iii) We must pray daily for an
increase of faith. There are many temptations, problems, and failures we meet
in our lives which would weaken our faith, trust, and love for Jesus. We can
resist such attacks only with the help of Jesus. We pray, “Lord increase our
faith.”
4. CONCLUSION
i) Father Chan was able to endure 30
years in prison because of his strong faith in God.
ii) Jesus
brought peace into the lives of his apostles. Jesus told us of the
great importance of faith.
iii) We have the mission to bring peace into the lives of others by being kind in word, respectful in our attitude towards others, and our willingness to forgive others. We pray daily for an increase of faith saying, “Lord increase our faith.” We thank Jesus for this instruction and ask him to help us be peacemakers and to increase our faith.
