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SCRIPTURE READINGS

ACTS 2:14,22-32

1 Peter 1:3-9

JOHN 20:19-31

SUNDAY REFLECTION

Peace be with you is the theme for our reflection. The Hebrew word for peace is shalom. The definition of Peace or shalom is not the absence of war or freedom from disturbance but the totality of a person’s well-being by virtue of His relationship with God. We shall proceed to understand what it means to say “Peace be with you” to a fellow believer in the Lord:

1. Peace means we are assured of our salvation because Christ has given us victory over death.
2. Peace means we are no longer afraid because Jesus is always with us.

First, we experience the peace of God through the salvation given to us by Jesus. Peter told the Israelites “This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” (Acts 2:23-24) Through Jesus, we have overcome death and are heirs of eternal life. Many do not have peace in their lives because of sin and death. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) Having peace in our lives is knowing that we have been saved or have eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ. Beloved in the Lord without salvation in Jesus there is no peace, it is for this reason, the Angels declared that “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.” (Luke 2:14). Those whom the Lord’s favour rest on earth are those who have a saving knowledge and relationship with Christ and continue to enjoy His peace. We experience this peace in our lives because “all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). Beloved in the Lord, without salvation in Christ, there is no peace. I, therefore, humbly invite you to repent and accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour or rededicate your life into His hands if you have not done so. Peter, again assures that there is peace in the salvation of Jesus when he wrote that “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. (1 Peter 1:3-4) Beloved in the Lord, are we not filled with joy, confidence and peace because in Jesus we have overcome death? “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:54-57) It is in this victory that we find peace, and are greatly encouraged by Paul that “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)

Second, peace is overcoming fear, because Christ is with us we are no longer be afraid of the storms of life. We are told that “On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. (John 20:19-20). Beloved in the Lord, fear is caused by a number of factors or occurrences in our lives. In the case of the disciples, they were afraid they will be captured by the Jewish authorities and will also suffer the fate of their Master Jesus. In our case, many believers are often afflicted with fear and uncertainty because of poverty, sickness, unemployment, disappointment, failure, and retrogression in life. My prayer is that the peace of the Lord will take away your fear and ignite your faith with a hope of smile and joy, for Jesus assures us that “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) Again, Jesus assures us that “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27), It means that even in our troubles and tribulations, Jesus is with us, therefore, we shall experience His peace. When Jesus was in the boat with His disciples, “A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:37-40) Dear friend in the Lord, to experience the peace of the Lord, all we need is faith. It was for this reason, Jesus said to Thomas, “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29) Let us have faith in Jesus regardless of the challenging times of our lives. Faith means “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:8-9) Yes, the Lord is always with us in both good and bad times and His peace shall continue to abide with us through faith. To guarantee His presence in our lives, He has given us the Holy Spirit to sustain our peace. “Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. (John 20:21-22) Apart from having faith in Jesus, we also need the Holy Spirit to strengthen us to remain faithful, resilient and courageous to overcome fear and experience the peace of the Lord. Peter who was hitherto filled with fear before the baptism of the Holy Spirit confirmed this when He said that “ God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. (Acts 2:32-33) Truly, we have victory over fear and experience the peace of the Lord through faith and the power of the Holy Spirit.

In summary, we have reflected on the theme “Peace be with you” In our reflection, we discovered that “Peace means we are assured of our salvation because Christ has given us victory over death. Again, Peace means we are no longer afraid of the storms of life because Jesus is always with us. May the Holy Spirit strengthen our faith even as we continue to experience the peace of the Lord in our lives. Amen.