"Peace be with you"

Most people think of Easter as a single day, but it for many Christians, including mainline Protestants, Catholics, the Orthodox Church, and other branches of the Christian faith an entire season - 50 days in all. The glorious celebrations of Easter morn mark on the tip of the iceberg. Commercially we have long-since passed Easter, and Mother's Day and are now stretching toward Memorial Day, even Father's Day. If you stop into a Cracker Barrel these days you'll be greeted by a table of 4th of July items prominently displayed at the front door. It is hard then to think that we are still in Eastertide when the culture is pulling us to engage in the trappings of the next big calendar event.

In fact, were it not for the assigned lectionary readings, that force the body of Christ to focus on the events and repercussions following Christ's resurrection, and left to our own devices, we might already be looking ahead to the happy manger. It is hardly a crime to wish to remain in the bliss of Christmas or the joy of Easter morn but it takes more that these two events to shore up the buttresses of a life of faith when the flood waters rise and strong winds threaten. A lot of life is lived between the manger and the cross. The faithful require a steady diet of a variety of biblical text to face the challenges of daily life.

One such text, from the second Sunday of Easter is John 20:19-31; sometimes called the account of "Doubting Thomas." When Jesus joined the disciples in the locked upper room he greeted them with the words, "Peace be with you." Unfortunately, we lack a proper way to interpret this. As is the case quite often when either biblical Hebrew or Greek is translated into English, something is lost. In this case, quite a bit is lost. So then while the words may be correctly interpreted, the meaning has not be captured. According to William Barclay, what Jesus says, more exactly is: May God give you every good thing. The disciples have been through a lot in recent days; they're tired, anxious and afraid. They've lost their direction, their purpose; the foundation of all their work swept away in a single day. How does one begin to say all the things that need to be said? Peace be with you, are words that do not fail. The repeat seems to stress Jesus' intent that they concentrate on what God has already and would provide, rather than what they have lost. It is how Jesus began to engage those he loved who were disoriented by the events of recent days - with the reminder that it is God who provides. When all is lost, when all seems beyond repair or redemption, it is God who will have the last word. This is what we too long to hear on the rough days we endure between Christmas and Easter.

It's been a hard Spring, weather-wise, in our nation. Last I heard the death toll was 339 from that terrible outbreak of tornadoes a few weeks ago. And as I write this, thousands await the cresting of the Mississippi River in a year of record-breaking flooding and devastation of land, crops and property. For so many everything they owned has been lost, heaping injury and insult to the loss of life. What do we say to people who have lost everything and are hanging on to the hope tomorrow might bring by a thread? Perhaps, "Peace be with you, " would be a good place to start.

In a recent bombing by NATO, it was reported that Gaddafi's youngest son was killed. Who will pay the price for the loss of his son? Eye for an eye . . . What do we say to the multitude who have already lost so many in the cruel attacks of Gaddafi's forces over the last few months? Sometimes it's easier to turn a blind eye; the pain of apathetic regret is soothing compared to the sight of such senseless bloodshed. After all, there is little you and I can do, but look to the worldly authorities to meek out justice, and pray. What then should be our prayer? When nothing comes to mind because the injustice is so great and the needs so immense let us begin with: Peace be with you.

Education has been the most recent target of budget cuts this year. Of course, the U.S. education system is far from perfect to begin with but the impact of such deep cuts for teaching staff and the marked reduction in students' exposure to the full spectrum of the humanities threatens to haunt us for generations. In this particular part of Pennsylvania, where the educational system employees a large number of people, cuts in staff and programs have immediate, local consequences. Even so, do not think for a moment that God does not have this situation in hand.

When Jesus appeared later in the week, when Thomas was again with the disciples, he said, once again, this time directly to the skeptic, to the one who no longer believed, "Peace be with you." The assurance to Thomas and of Eastertide is that ultimately God's redeeming work does not depend on our belief. God's love is far more powerful then how we might perceive or judge it. In these Great 50 Days we are reminded that even the seemingly final word of the cross was defeated by God's illogical, sacrificial justice. The Sunday texts throughout the whole Easter season assure the worshiping body of Christ that we truly can know the peace of God that surpasses all human understanding in the good things provided to meet our every need and beyond.