Reflection
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them,“Shalom.
John 20:19-31
The locked places of our lives are always more about what is going on inside of us than around us. The disciples had locked out faith, hope, and love and entered their own tombs of fear, doubt, and blindness. They had locked themselves in with fear so deep they could not take the risk of stepping outside. Sorrow and loss kept them captive in the tomb of their unbelief. Then Jesus came bringing peace, offering peace, embodying peace, offering new life. Life and peace are the gift of Easter. They do not necessarily change the circumstances of our lives, but they unlock the doors of our fears and enable us to step outside with courage into renewed discipleship.
Prayer
Blessed are those who have believed.
Action
Consider what the closed places of your life are? What is it keeps you in the tomb?
Suggested Reading
On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
John 20:19-31
We proclaim the resurrection of Christ when his light illuminates the dark moments of our existence, and we are able share it with others
Pope Francis
Easter was when Hope in person surprised the whole world by coming forward from the future into the present.
N.T. Wright
God’s dream for us is not simply peace of mind, but peace on earth.
Marcus Borg
Fear stifles our thinking and actions. It creates indecisiveness that results in stagnation. I have known talented people who procrastinate indefinitely rather than risk failure. Lost opportunities cause erosion of confidence, and the downward spiral begins.
Charles Stanley
Wiping out the fear isn’t what’s important – facing it is.
Julien Smith
It is not our circumstances on the outside which are our real problem. It is the circumstances on the inside of us, the unbelief in our hearts, which is the cause of our problems.
Vernon McGee
The world is too dangerous for anything but truth and too small for anything but love.
William Sloane Coffin
Love casts out fear.
Dorothy Day
Let us not pray to be sheltered from dangers but to be fearless when facing them.
Rabindranath Tagore