First Reading: Acts 3:13-15, 17-19
Psalm: 4
Second Reading: 1 John 2:1-5
Gospel: Luke 24:35-48
REFLECTION BY FR CORNELIUS NWAOGWUGWU, CM
THE MESSAGE OF PEACE FILLED WITH GOODWILL
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Today is the Third Sunday of Easter, Year B. As we continue to celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord, it is very pertinent to know that there is a need for us to be aware of the living presence of the Risen Lord within us. This awareness through the power of the Holy Spirit strengthens our hope, removes our fears and renews our lives with His gift of peace and goodwill. The awareness of this gift of peace within us enables us to bear witness to Christ’s death and resurrection.
On this Third Sunday of Easter, I bring to you and your families the message of peace filled with goodwill. Peace is Christ’s personal gift to us. Jesus said to his disciples: “Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:23-29). We must use our minds to examine our hearts to remove any obstacles to God’s grace. This is the path to peace in our lives.
Today’s First Reading narrates Peter’s address to the Jewish assembly at the Portico of Solomon in Jerusalem. Peter explains to them how the messianic prophecies have been fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. He challenges the Jews to repent and be renewed in Christ’s gift of peace. (Acts 3:13-15, 17-19).
In the Second Reading, John said that Jesus’ death was a sacrifice offered as an expiation for our sins. John affirms that the death of Christ restores us to peace with God and one another. (1 John 2:1-5).
Today’s Gospel describes Jesus’ appearance on the evening of His Resurrection to his apostles who were in the Upper Room filled with fears and doubts. Jesus removed the fears and doubts of his apostles about his Resurrection by wishing them peace. Jesus said to them: “Peace be with you!” “Look at my hands and feet; yes, it is I indeed. Touch me and see for yourselves; a ghost has no flesh and bones as you can see I have. By inviting his disciples to touch him and by eating a piece of cooked fish, Jesus explains how the prophecies have been fulfilled in him. Jesus restored their peace and hope. Then Jesus commissions them to bear witness to him and preach “repentance and forgiveness of sins in his name” through the power of the Holy Spirit, the giver of peace. (Luke 24:35-48).
As Christians, we should claim this special gift of peace from the Risen Lord. This gift of peace enables us to stand erect in the midst of uncertainties and worries. Jesus continues to say to us, “Peace be with you,” “Do not be afraid.” “I am with you always till the end of time.” These are consoling words from our Lord, Jesus Christ. Jesus assures us of his gift of peace. In our moments of need, fears, doubts and tensions, Christ’s gift of peace becomes our greatest source of hope, strength and encouragement.
We are urged to take to heart the words of Jesus Christ so that we may experience the truth of Christ’s gift of authentic peace. We are called to be an apostle of peace in our time. We are challenged to do everything within our power to promote peace beginning with our community, families, and places of work. Praying and working for peace in the world is a priority today.
In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus teaches that our hearts can be in three states. The first is a hardened heart, the second is a heart that entertains evil desires, and the third is a heart of goodness. Only the heart of goodness is capable of bearing fruit that will last. But it is only through genuine prayer and humble reflection that we can soften our hearts and remove the weeds. We should be delighted to know this, because God has revealed to us the means to attain peace in our lives while on earth. (Matthew 13:1–23, Mark 4:1–20 and Luke 8:4–15).
A heart of goodwill spreads peace among people. It enables us to wish one another well. Goodwill encourages us to see what we possess as gifts from God. It empowers us to accept that God’s gifts are never meant only for us but should be shared with those who are experiencing poverty in its many forms. In respect of this understanding of the term goodwill, Bishop Ambrose of Milan wrote, “It is for all that the earth was created. Nature knows no rich. She only gives birth to the poor. When you give to the poor, it is not from your own wealth, but it is a fragment of their property you are returning to them, for it is common property, given for all to use, that you are keeping for yourself.”
Charity releases the spirit of goodwill, joy and peace. Sharing shows love and goodwill. It builds lasting peace. Lasting peace is a gift from God to men and women of goodwill. The principles of peace, based on justice and goodwill, teach us not to look down on others, especially the poor and needy. Charity begins where justice ends. Love, justice and goodwill are necessary conditions for peace. The presence of worry and misunderstanding cannot negate peace, rather, peace is the presence of justice, love and goodwill in the heart. Prayer is the key to goodwill.
But what about those people who deliberately cause trouble? Jesus addressed this problem one evening as St. Faustina records in her diary. She writes that Jesus spoke to her and said, “Have great love for those who cause you suffering. Do good to those who hate you.” I answered, O my Master, You see very well that I feel no love for them and that troubles me. Jesus answered, “It is not always within your power to control your feelings. You will recognize that you have love, if, after having experienced annoyance and contradiction, you do not lose your peace, but pray for those who have made you suffer and wish them well.” (Diary 1628).
This refers to our ordinary relationships. There are people in everyone’s life who cause trouble and suffering. Most of the time, the weapons of these stressful relationships are words backed up with rejection and insecurity. Everyone knows how hurtful these behaviours are and we all fear them, but people of goodwill never use them to hurt others.
Everything in Christianity depends on the response from deep within our hearts. We can read a thousand books and yet not fully understand that everything in Christianity comes from deep within our hearts. This is why Jesus said, “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.” (Matthew 13:11).
Like the disciples of Jesus, our hope can be challenged. Discouragement, rejection and insecurity can throw any person into complete confusion and disillusion. As individuals or families, we can be in a state of disarray in life. We can live in fear, have doubts and be without hope. When we are like this, can we recognise Jesus Christ in anything? Can we experience the gift of peace from Christ? Do we have any memory of Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ continues to be with us in every situation that troubles us. He gives us his gift of peace and teaches us his words of wisdom to open our minds to the realities of his truth. Jesus Christ is with us all the time. Is our faith strong enough to recognise him? Just as the disciples experienced the Risen Lord in their community, let us learn to recognize the presence of Jesus in our own homes. Let us invite Jesus, the Prince of Peace into our homes and make Him the Head of our families.
May Jesus Christ open our eyes and minds to recognise his gift of peace that restores us to goodwill, hope and joy now and forever. Amen.
Fr. Cornelius Nwaogwugwu, CM.