We continue with the readings of the Easter season. It’s a time of joy, as well as a season in which we celebrate Christ’s victory over death. In this, we should certainly find a measure of real consolation!

Saint Ignatius speaks in his writings about a Spiritual Consolation: “I call it consolation when an interior movement is aroused in the soul, by which it is inflamed with love of its Creator and Lord and . . . can love no creature on the face of the earth for its own sake, but only in the Creator of them all.”

When we look at our world today, admittedly, many do not seek this consolation and many do not seem to value peace or bring it to others around them. There are wars, conflicts among nations or groups within a nation, struggles within families. . .. What would Jesus say at such a time as ours? Jesus might well say, as he did so often back then: “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you. . . “

As historians know, much of the hatred and opposition that Jesus’ life—and words–brought forth was also visited on his followers, Peter, James, Thomas, Paul and many other early Christians! They were killed because they got in the way of Jewish plans or of the Roman occupation. Yet we know that, in spite of this, they were often filled with joy in preaching the Word. I believe they had many moments of interior consolation, and because of these, never lost their faith in the Crucified and Risen Lord Jesus!

In today’s Mass, we find in the reading from Revelation the vision of a great throng, standing before the throne –wearing “white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.” This remains one of the consoling visions of the Evangelist John, who realized in his Patmos days that, though he would not share in that bloody witness many souls had suffered and still others would undergo, he would join them soon in praising the Good Shepherd! He would be able to share fully in the victory given to the Lamb of God, that Divine Lamb from whom all blessings flow! Since we too have been shown these past weeks a gift of untold beauty, the consoling presence of the Risen Lord, we can take pleasure in sharing in that joyful “peace that the world cannot give.” And we might pray, as many other Easter people do, a prayer like similar to this:

“Lord let me witness Your resurrection power, in the ebb and flow of my life. Help me to have the courage to follow You even when it’s not easy. And may the brightness of Your Love make us appreciate all that You do for us, and for those who carry Your message today to a world desperately in need. Amen!”

In prayer,
Fr. Peter J. Murray, S.J.
Parochial Vicar