Troubled Hearts and Doubtful Minds

The gift that the Lord first gives to His disciples after His Resurrection is peace.  "Peace be with you."  This peace is not just the warm, happy feeling that comes when the sun shines on our faces and the gentle breeze breathes on our skin.  This peace is the calming sense that overcomes us, easing troubled hearts and convinces doubtful minds.  The feeling of knowing that all will be well, according to the plan of God.  The knowledge that the victory has already been won.  The hope of eternal life and the "resurrection of the body." 

Jesus showed the disciples His wounds, emphasizing that He is flesh (not a ghost) and that He is truly risen.  He then also "opened their minds to understand the Scriptures."  In doing so, He was strengthening and encouraging the disciples, moving them to belief and faith, and instilling hope in their hearts, hope and knowledge that all He had shared with them and all that was foretold about Him in the Scriptures were true, and the hope that they will have eternal life and be raised glorified.  "Peace be with you."

 It is Jesus who went to the Apostles.  It is God who comes to us and approaches us in the midst of our fears and anxieties.  When we are troubled and confused let us ask the Lord to give us His peace and remember what He said to His Apostles and what He says to us today, "Peace be with you."  When our hearts grow heavy and troubled because of past sins, hear Him say to you, "Peace be with you."  Seek forgiveness and reconciliation and move to conversion.  The peace that the Lord gives to you will enable you to carry those out.  True contrition moves us to action and conversion.

Towards the end of Jesus' encounter with the disciples He said to them, "And behold I am sending the promise of my Father unto you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."  Jesus promises to not leave the Apostles all on their own.  He will send the Holy Spirit to be with them.  The Holy Spirit is with all of us.  Jesus does not leave us on our own.  He is with us.  Know that you are not alone.  Jesus gives you His peace and sends the Holy Spirit.

Let us remember the Father comes to us and the Son says to us, "Peace be with you."  Let us ask the Father for the trust to know that His Words have power and that His peace casts out all fears and anxieties, and that only He can calm our troubled hearts and ease our doubtful minds.   
The Incredulity of Saint Thomas by Caravaggio

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