(Adults, the Gospel is long and complicated and speaks of wolves and demons, snakes and scorpions. You might opt not to read the entire Gospel to your child, and instead simply read the reflection. If you want to emphasize the Word of God, you could read the quotations directly from the Bible.)
We know that Jesus walks all about the land of Israel, spreading the good news about the Kingdom of God. His friends walk with him. This Sunday, we hear Jesus send out some of his friends to spread the good news themselves. Jesus gives them two things to say. What two things does he want them to say?
Jesus says to the disciples,
“Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’
There is the first thing to say. "Peace to this house!" And what is the second thing?
‘The Kingdom of God has come near to you.’
"Peace to this house" and "the Kingdom of God has come near to you." Why does Jesus want them to say this? What can Jesus mean?
Let's think first about peace.
Peace means "Be not afraid."
Peace means "Be still and know that I AM God."
Peace means, "The Lord is my shepherd. I have everything I need."
"Peace be with you," Jesus says, when he rises to new life, never to die again.
When the disciples say, "Peace to this house," they bring the peace of the Lord into the house with them. Then what happens?
Jesus says,
And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person
The peace of the Lord rests on the people in the house. They share in the peace. The peace of the Lord spreads between them, like peanut butter or jam spreading across toast so that every bite is full of something so tasty.
And what is it that is so tasty?
‘The Kingdom of God has come near to you.’
As the disciples spread the peace, the Kingdom of God comes near. It is so sweet, so full—the best.
What happens when the people of the house go out and visit another house? The peace of the Lord continues to spread! And wherever people of peace go, the Kingdom of God comes near.
The peace of the Lord continues to spread. There is a moment in the Mass when each of us spreads the peace of the Lord. The priest says,
The peace of the Lord be with you.
And we say,
And with your Spirit.
The peace of the Lord—Jesus' peace—God's peace—spreads between us and the priest.
Then we turn to the people around us and we spread the peace of the Lord some more. We hug, we bow, we make a sign, spreading that peace between us, covering every single bite, and the Kingdom of God comes near making everything so sweet.
Comentários