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“Peace be with you.”  We heard these words twice in the gospel from last Sunday and we hear them again in the gospel this Sunday.  They are the first words out of the mouth of the resurrected Jesus as he appears to his disciples. This tells me that they needed peace. He asks them, “Why are you troubled?”  I am pretty sure they are troubled because in the days prior they had witnessed the terrible violent death of their good friend, leader, and teacher, Jesus. Of course their hearts are troubled!

Perhaps these are the words Jesus wants to tell us, his first message he wants to give us.  “Peace be with you.”  Before we start thinking we have to do anything, or say anything, he tells us, “Peace be with you.”  When we worry for our well-being, how we will pay bills or make ends meet, “Peace be with you.”  Before we worry that our young people are wandering too far from our faith or too far from us, “Peace be with you.”  As we enter an election year and brace ourselves to hear hard things from politicians, “Peace be with you.”  While we witness terrible violence throughout the world, “Peace be with you.”

As we continue to celebrate Easter, let’s take to heart the first words from Jesus, trusting that he most wants us to fully take in his resurrection gift of peace. “Peace be with you.”

This Sunday and Monday, April 14-15, a group of 7 youth together with Lupita Perez, our youth coordinator, Mr. Alvaro Pacheco, and myself, Fr. Scott, are traveling to Sacramento to participate in the Jesuits West California  Advocacy Day at the state capital in Sacramento. There we will meet with our elected state senators and assemblymembers to advocate for just housing laws, care for creation, just immigration policies, among other important topics for us and our youth. Please pray that our meetings go well, and that we can put our faith into action together with our Jesuit works throughout the state.