Peace Be With Us

The two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way, and how Jesus was made known to them in the breaking of bread. While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” 

And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of them. He said to them,

“These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.” 

Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said to them, “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” (Luke 24:35-48)

“Jesus was made known to them in the breaking of bread.”  How true we who receive the Eucharist concluded long ago.  When we touch and take the host, we don’t see hands and feet although perhaps that’s something we should “see” because we receive the Body of Christ.  Perhaps it would be wise for dispensers of the Eucharist to say in addition to “The Body of Christ,” “Peace be with you.”  

Christ appeared to the two disciples after he rose from the dead.   Christ rises before us when the host is lifted from the plate (ciborium) to our hands or mouths.  He appears to all of us and is living when we receive the hoist and then later to preach, receive and give forgiveness in his name.

Deacon David Pierce