Peace be with you

As I’m writing this, it’s the beginning of April and Spring is in the air – the sun is shining, but there’s the odd shower, and plants and trees are definitely showing signs of life.

Easter has been joyfully celebrated in Christian churches around the world with a message of hope, and life in abundance in this world and in the next. And Jesus’ appearing to his disciples, and to many hundreds of others, after his death and resurrection gave me extra cause for reflection this year.

A couple of weeks before Easter I spent several days in hospital due to a collapsed lung and was having difficulty in breathing. The main thing that concerned the doctor and nurses was how much oxygen was getting into my blood-stream, as that would affect my heart and my brain. They gave me oxygen through little pipes in my nostrils, inserted a chest drain, and seemed satisfied that my oxygen levels were improving.

On that first Easter evening when Jesus met with his disciples, he spoke words of peace to them - it wasn’t oxygen that they needed, but something quite different.

Jesus always knows what we need – he’s always watching, listening, and responding to us. And he knew what this frightened group of men needed and he responded to them - ‘Peace be with you’, he said. And just as the heart monitor that I was attached to in hospital showed that my heart wasn’t racing so fast once I knew I was in safe hands, I am sure that their fearful hearts settled down a bit.

Bishop Guli writes, ‘Peace is something we all long for and we know that finding true peace - that deep and inner peace that passes all understanding - isn’t easy…. What helps, in my experience, is acceptance of what has been and surrender to God of those things beyond our control which are yet to come.’

Spending time with God in prayer, enjoying his creation outdoors, showing kindness to one another, might just give us a greater sense of peace, and enable us to draw closer to God. We have nothing to lose and much to gain.

May you know God’s peace in your life and for those you love, Revd Anne.