In the call of the 72 disciples in the Gospel of Saint Luke, Jesus urges them to say when they enter a house, “Peace to this house.” Today’s Gospel in Saint John harkens back to those words of Jesus at the Last Supper, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you.”

At the beginning of Mass, the celebrant often says, “The grace and peace of the Lord be with you.” (Some priests only use this greeting.) Later in the Mass, we hear that word “peace” four more times. (Early in my adult life, a Jesuit mentor of mine would sign every letter, note, or email, “Peace in the Lord.”)

As I was putting the finishing touches on this reflection, I read the Easter message of Pope Francis. Among many things, he said through his reader, Italian bishop Diego Ravelli: a call for peace and an end to the killing of children, women, and men, especially in the Holy Land and Ukraine, as well as in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Myanmar.

Pope Francis went on by telling the world, “Christ is risen! Jesus is not in the tomb, he is alive! Love has triumphed over hatred, light over darkness, and truth over falsehood. Forgiveness has triumphed over revenge.”

Pope Francis also reminded the world that Catholics and Orthodox Christians celebrated Easter on the same day this year in the church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, and he prayed that “the light of peace may radiate from there throughout the Holy Land and the entire world.”

Before I sent this reflection off to Cleveland, I heard of the passing of Pope Francis, “a man of peace” (the headline on our local newspaper). May this prayer of his namesake, Francis, be ours today.

Let Us Pray:

Make me a channel of your peace, Lord. Where there is hatred, let me sow your love. Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord. And where there is doubt, true faith in you.