Peace be with you

As we gather at Umina or Kincumber for Sunday Worship, may we not forget that 1.2 billion Catholics in the world will “gather” today for the Installation of Pope Leo XIV, former American and Peruvian Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost. From the upstairs window facing St. Peter’s square, he used what Time magazine called “the world’s most famous pulpit to promote a vision, that of late, has been more a wish than a reality”. How did Pope Leo do that? Through his opening words:

“Peace be with all of you!”

In fluent Italian – noting that he is also fluent in Spanish, English, Portuguese, French and Latin – he said: “To all people, wherever they are, to all the people of the earth, may peace be with you”. His God-given task is to deliver that.

Pope Leo’s words remind me of the One whom he is called to serve: our Risen, Crucified Lord Jesus Christ. In John’s gospel we are told: “¹⁹ On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ ²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. ²¹ Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’” (John 20:19-21).

This wasn’t the first time Jesus had said these words to His disciples. In the upstairs room three days earlier He had said: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27) and “‘I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33). It won’t be the last time that Jesus speaks these words either: “A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’” (John 20:26). 

Pope Leo is heeding the command of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, to be a Peacemaker. He began his Pontificate by speaking that from an upstairs window facing the world. We are also called by Jesus to be Peacemakers. We aren’t in an “upstairs room” in Jerusalem, or “an upstairs window” in Rome, but spiritually we are “upstairs”: for our citizenship is in Heaven (Philippians 3:20). We are called to look up to Jesus, and then to look out to His world, and truly be the people that He is making us to be: Peacemakers.

So pray for Pope Leo and our Catholic brothers and sisters, and pray that all who follow Christ may be instruments of His divine peace.

Peace be with you all,

Rev. Frank (Van Der Korput), Supply Minister