Scripture can be found here…
Peace be with you.
Back when we knew the coronavirus was becoming something that was having an impact on communities far away, and probably would begin to have an impact on our community, we learned the ASL sign for “Peace be with you.” I thought it would be good for us to be able to greet one another in a churchy way, without a handshake. As I shared with the congregation that morning, the word “peace,” comes from two signs. One, means change—you can see that your hands turn around, change their position. The other means, quiet. In ASL, “peace” comes from words that mean change for quiet.
Peace be with you.
That’s what Jesus says, as he materializes out of thin air in the midst of this group of his closest friends and followers, on the evening of that same resurrection day, that’s Easter night to you and me. Jesus shows up in this place where his people are hunkered down, afraid to venture out into the world, waiting for word, and wondering what’s next.
It is still Easter Day in our gospel story, but now the day it is over—it’s late in the evening. Jesus’ loved ones are starting to share their stories of seeing him. Depending on which gospel you’re reading, Jesus appears first to the women at the tomb, or maybe just Mary Magdalene. Last week we walked with the two disciples and Jesus and watched as he revealed himself as they shared bread at the dinner table. And now we learn that he has appeared to Peter.
There’s a breathlessness in the room, an excitement mixed with fear and incredulity. All this appearing and disappearing—it’s unsettling. It’s terrifying. And Jesus knows that, so he says, “Peace,” when he enters the room. “Shalom” a word that also means “Hello,” and “Goodbye.”
Peace be with you.
Still, Jesus’ friends are startled. They’re terrified. Understandably. They are not 100% sure it’s really Jesus. They think he may be a ghost. And while, yes, it makes sense that Jesus would offer a glimpse of his hands and feet to help their belief—the hands and feet into which nails had been driven, and so which still bore those marks—it was also common practice, in the face of someone you suspected to be a ghost, to look at their hands and feet. For one thing, are they floating? Or are their feet touching the ground?
And they look at Jesus’ hands and feet, they examine them—at Jesus’ invitation, they touch them—and they are filled with joy. And they are also still wondering. Is it Jesus?
So, another way you would check to see whether someone was a ghost would be to have them eat something. And Jesus asks if they have anything to eat, and proceeds to gobble down a piece of broiled fish.
See? It’s me, Jesus is saying. Peace be with you.
It is Jesus. But he is different. After all, he can disappear and he can appear. Materialize and dematerialize.
The resurrection body is different from the earthly body.
Paul talks about this, in his first letter to the church at Corinth. He writes,
There are both heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one thing, and that of the earthly is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; indeed, star differs from star in glory. So it is with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body.
~ 1 Corinthians 15:40-44
Resurrection is not resuscitation. The resurrection body, which Paul calls the spiritual body, is different. It can appear and disappear. It can move through closed doors (see John 20:19-23). It is glorious, and powerful, and spiritual. It is no less real. It is the same Jesus. And everything has changed.
Jesus reminds his friends of things he has already said to them, numerous times. Things about God’s plans. Things about his fulfillment of those plans. And in the end, he tells them, “You need to stay put. You need to stay right here.” You need to stay where you are, until God gives you what you need, to go out into God’s world, telling my story.
In the meantime, my peace is with you.
Peace: a change for quiet.
This is not a “hush, this is the library” kind of quiet. This is, “now is a good time for deep prayer and deep learning” kind of quiet. This peace is the calming of the heart and soul with the blessed assurance that God’s got this, and God will give you what you need when the time comes.
Many of us are at home right now, physically distancing ourselves from others in the name of safety and mutual care for our communities as we try to stop the spread of the coronavirus. And many are out in the world, making sure that our towns are safe, that our hospitals care for the sick, that food and fuel are still available for our communities.
Wherever you are, right now, Jesus can and will appear, and breathe peace on you. Jesus appears every time a kind word is spoken, instead of an impatient one. Jesus appears every time you reach out to someone with a phone call or a text, or they reach out to you. Jesus appears in our midst, every time we pause whatever we are doing to say “Thank you, God, for this moment, for this breath, for this day.” Jesus appears, as we place the plate on the table, and sit down for a meal, in the company of a partner, or a child, or the glorious communion of saints.
Jesus appears, and he says, “Peace be with you.” Peace.
Thanks be to God. Amen.