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What is true peace? It is the peace that comes from God, the peace that springs from His heart. Jesus put it this way: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27) These were also the first words of the Risen One to His disciples: “Peace be with you!” (John 20:19). In saying this, He expresses what applies to all people. How different it is when the Son of God comes to people and promises them the peace of God. When this peace is received, it pierces the darkness of ignorance, touches and opens closed hearts, and dispels fears. God desires to give His peace to humanity. It is the peace that the world cannot give (cf. John 14:27), which, in harmony with truth and love, offers true life to humanity as an infinite gift of His goodness. Jesus comes to His own as the Risen One. He comes as the Victor, for He has disempowered Satan, conquered death, and redeemed humanity on the cross. “Peace be with you!”—It is His peace! May this peace, Your peace, O Risen One, finally spread throughout the whole earth. The absence of violence is not enough; we need Your peace. For this, we need You! Then Jesus showed them His hands and His side (John 20:27). They were to be absolutely certain that it was Him, so that the reality of His Resurrection might fully sink in. It is truly their Lord standing before them—the One they have followed, for whom they have left everything. There is no longer any doubt. Their joy can now burst forth—the joy that it is He, their beloved Lord, and that He lives! They are now to carry His peace to all people. Everyone is to know that our Heavenly Father loves them and wants to give them eternal life. All people are to know that God has prepared the way for them in His Son, so that they may repent, live, and return home to Him. The disciples will be the true messengers of peace, sent out to bring the message of salvation to people as they follow their Lord. Just as Jesus Himself was sent by the Father, so too are they sent. Jesus breathes on them so that they may receive the Holy Spirit (John 20:22). The Holy Spirit will guide, strengthen, and empower them to proclaim the Gospel. The Apostle Thomas still needed to be convinced. The testimony of the other disciples had not been enough for him to come to faith in the Resurrection. He wanted proof; he wanted to convince himself. The Lord did not praise him for wanting proof and for not believing the testimony of the other disciples. Even his wonderful confession, “My Lord and my God!” was met with a qualifying comment from the Lord: “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” (John 20:28–29). The Lord thus points out to us that we do not need to seek proof for our faith, but should simply open ourselves to the supernatural light that He gives us. We do not, therefore, need to see in order to believe. Let us, then, ask the Lord above all for a strong faith, so that we too may be witnesses to the Resurrection of Christ. Meditation on the day’s reading: https://en.elijamission.net/2020/04/19/ Meditation on the day’s Gospel: https://en.elijamission.net/2023/04/16/ Download PDF

We have heard it many times in the accounts. It has happened: The Lord has risen from the dead! He is truly risen! Alleluia! This cry resounds throughout the Christian faith and gives it hope—hope even in dark times, when it seems to be fading—for the Resurrection of Christ is the visible sign of victory over hell and death! “O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?” (1 Cor 15:55) May this cry never fall silent. May it lift up all despondent hearts and pierce through the darkness. The Lord is risen! Today’s Gospel reading in the Old Rite (John 20:1–9) takes us back once more to the disciples on the early morning of Easter. They still have a journey to make to understand what happened on Easter morning. It is still unclear to them, and they are shaken and grieving over the death of their Lord. What will happen after His death? The Lord now lay in the tomb … Read More

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” (Mt 28:18-20)

These are the words You, as the Risen Lord, spoke to the eleven disciples on the mountain in Galilee. They remain true forever.

These are the holy words that moved the missionaries to go to the ends of the earth and joyfully serve Your holy mission amid the greatest hardships and sufferings.

These are the words that the Holy Spirit continually brings to our remembrance, so that they may never be lost and Your people may not forget their mission. Read More

“Peace be to you (…). Why are you troubled? (…) it is I myself” (Lk 24:36, 38–39).

This is how the Risen Lord addressed His disciples when He appeared among them. They still could not quite believe it and were filled with dread and fear (Lk 24:37). Who was this who spoke to them? Their eyes had not yet been opened; they could not recognize the Risen One.

Was He perhaps a spirit? No, it was the Lord! It was the very One with whom they had journeyed and whom they had followed for three years, with whom they had eaten and drunk; the One who had performed miracles before their eyes and had instructed them with the fullness of wisdom. Yet now they could not recognize Him. Could He perhaps be a ghost?

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NOTE: Throughout Easter Week, the daily meditations will take on a more contemplative tone, to help us delve deeper into the great event of our faith: the Resurrection of the Lord. The “3 Minutes for Abba” will continue as usual (https://en.elijamission.net/category/3-minutes-for-god-the-father/).

Just as You foretold, beloved Jesus, it has come to pass. You have truly risen!

You rose from the dead, and the good news has reached us. The first to announce it were the angels at the tomb: “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen” (Lk 24:5). Then came Mary Magdalene; she had the grace to see You first, and then the apostles. There is no doubt! Not even the hostile Jews and the bribed soldiers could hide the truth. Alleluia!

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Mary Magdalene, wanting to show her love for the Lord even in death, runs to the tomb before daybreak.

“They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don’t know where they have put Him” (Jn 20:2) – she exclaims in pain, when she discovers that the stone of the tomb has been removed. Are the dead not even left in peace? Where is her Lord?

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Mourning for the Lord; grief for men, who have not recognised their Redeemer and have crucified Him… Mourning of the Mother for the beloved Son; mourning and bewilderment among the disciples, who say to each other in confusion: “Our own hope had been that He would be the one to set Israel free…” (Lk 24:21)

But the Lord descended into hell, to those who were still waiting for the Redemption, and He filled them also with His love.

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Judas consummated his betrayal and Jesus is apprehended. This happens after the Lord had accepted in Gethsemane the suffering from the hands of his Father and had given his ‘yes’ to all that was before him.

A YES that had to go through anguish and agony; a YES, after having asked his Father that, if possible, that cup might pass without his having to drink it (cf. Mt 26:39-44); a YES that expresses unconditional surrender to the Father; a YES out of love for us men.

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“During supper, Jesus got up from table, removed His outer garments and, taking a towel, wrapped it round his waist; he then poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel he was wearing.” (Jn 13:4-5)

What great love is manifested to us on this day, what extraordinary gestures do we encounter! The Lord of heaven and earth washes the feet of His disciples, thus revealing to them more deeply what their discipleship is all about: it is about service. God Himself, in His infinite love, serves man; and He calls us to live in this same service.

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Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests and said, ‘What are you prepared to give me if I hand Him over to you?’ They paid him thirty silver pieces. (Mt 26:14-15)

The betrayal of God in exchange for unjust money… How often this story is repeated! How often people sell themselves at the price of money, of honour, of disorderly pleasures, of power!

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