When Jesus came in and stood among the disciples on the evening of his resurrection, probably not all of them immediately felt joyful. Why did they gather at the house? And why did they lock all the doors? They were fearful of the Jews who had executed their teacher. They likely gathered to discuss how to survive. The gathering was hardly for preparation of the resurrection of their master. All the four gospels report about the unbelief of the disciples even after they received the news of the resurrection from the women.
In the meantime, I suppose, the hearts of the disciples felt heavy and guilty for all had deserted their master at the garden of Olive and ran away for life. One of them even outwardly denied Jesus before people for fear of life. I believe the other disciples felt more or less the same as the one who had denied their master. They probably felt deep remorse and guilt about having abandoned their teacher.
Thus, the live fear of life and remorse and guilt confused and oppressed them. Perhaps the presence and companionship of each other that night would lessen their anxiety and guilt a little bit.
Then, we can imagine how much startled the disciples were when Christ came in and stood among them. And their guilt probably pierced their hearts at the sight of their abandoned master.
However, Jesus did not throw any sharp words. Instead, he first said, “Peace be with you.” Indeed, Jesus knew their hearts. That peace was what they needed. But they could not find it anywhere else. It must have come from their Lord because that peace was the fruit of the forgiveness of their sin – namely having abandoned and denied their Lord. Now, by showing his hands and his side, Jesus assured them that a real and true person was forgiving them. The forgiveness they received from the risen Jesus was not a spiritual vision. A risen Jesus spoke the forgiveness with his voice. That peace was the absolution and healing of their sin and guilt.
The message of the resurrection was the forgiveness of sins and the peace that comes from it. The first thing the risen Christ granted to his disciples was his mercy. Christ Jesus declares it in this way: “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” God the Father sent him to give the peace of forgiveness.
But then, can we forgive others now so easily? Christ told his disciple to receive the Holy Spirit. Why? I believe because we cannot forgive others without the assistance of the Holy Spirit. Mercy is essentially not human but divine. It is beyond human reason and justice.
We celebrate the Divine Mercy Sunday. Indeed, mercy comes from the Lord. Is our society full of mercy in our generation? I do not think so. Under the names of justice and rights, it proudly exercises mercilessness. It is no surprise since our society has become farther and farther away from God. We walk away from the source of mercy and forgiveness. That is why we do not enjoy true peace.
Let us ask the Holy Spirit to come. And let us receive Him. As the risen Christ wishes, I pray that I may receive his mercy and enjoy his peace so that I may also share that peace through forgiving others.
