"Peace be with you." Jn 20:19
Ours is a God of second chances. And third chances and on and on. Immoderately and overwhelmingly forgiving, God is always urging us to begin again, to trust and not be afraid. Jesus' greeting of peace in today's gospel is our assurance that God's patience has not worn thin, if anything it is fuller and deeper. Though his disciples abandoned him at his most vulnerable, Jesus forgives and greets them with the power of Shalom/Peace, a word that means be yourself, don't be afraid, I want you to know of my love and acceptance even in your weakness.
That Pentecost comes 50 days after Easter is no accident. For the Jews the time after Passover was a time of catechesis, a time to learn and enter more deeply into the mystery of the God's love, and a day to mark and celebrate the gift of the Torah on Mt Sinai. God had not only passed over the Jewish people, saved them and set them free from slavery, he gave them the gift of the Ten Commandments to guide and console them.
Similarly, for Christians, Pentecost is the time to remember how God's love in Jesus did not die with his death. Rather, he has been raised up and given us the gift of his Spirit who will accompany us every day, even when we forget God's love. God is giving his disciples and us a second chance to understand and be transformed by the Spirit. Though we will fail and fall along the way, God will always be waiting to pick us up and send us on our way.
Today, be grateful for all the second chances in your life.
What does Pentecost mean to you?
Pentecost is rich in meaning. It helps us understand many mysteries such as why God allows suffering, why so few in human history have heard the true gospel, and what is the fate of those who have died without accepting Christ. There is an article called "The Secret Meaning of Pentecost" that goes into this in detail.
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