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May 4, 2018Dear Parishioners,
Peace be with you.
Every time we gather as a community to celebrate Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, there is a time when we greet each other with the sign of peace.
Have you ever stopped to reflect on what that greeting means? When the priest or deacon says "Let us offer each other the sign of peace," automatically we turn to each other and greet each other with "Peace be with you." What does it really mean? When we say that to each other; what are we really saying?
When Jesus appeared to His disciples, He knew that they were afraid, confused, and deeply troubled by the events of the past few days. So when He greeted them with the words "Peace be with you," He was saying: " I am here, do not worry. Do not be afraid anymore because this is what the scriptures really say about me."
In greeting them with the words peace be with you ... he is giving them peace ... and in giving them peace ... he gave them himself.
Brothers and sisters, I believe this is what we are really saying to one another when we are offering each other the sign of peace: "Do not worry, Jesus is with us and no matter how big the challenges you are facing right now, everything will be ok because Jesus is with you and through His resurrection you will also be resurrected."
Pope Francis has called the sacraments, "the manifestation of the Father's tenderness and love toward each of us." During the Easter season, we celebrate the sacraments of initiation with a renewed sense of God's saving love for us. This is especially true fort he children, teens, and adults who will celebrate sacraments with us this month. Please join me in praying for the 151 children who will receive their First Holy Communion on May 12th; the 48 young people who will be confirmed by Cardinal DiNardo on May 27th; and the 16 adults who will be confirmed on Pentecost Sunday, May 20, 2018. Please keep them in your prayers. May they encounter the joy of the Risen Christ, now and always!
Brothers and sisters, peace be with you.
In Christ,
Fr. Christian
