Dear Disciples of Christ at Holy Spirit, St. Helen’s, and St. Mary’s,

In my backpacking days, I was hiking a section of the Appalachian trail in Pennsylvania when I heard other hikers talking about a man named peace. I should explain that on the trail your fellow Hikers give you a trail name. Mine was snail and my hiking buddies was turtle. Why? The first time we hiked the trail we had everything but the kitchen sink in our backpacks. Other hikers said we were like a turtle or snail carrying our house on our back. And, yeah, we were not the fastest of hikers on the trail. A man named peace.

Hikers said there was something special about him. One afternoon I had stopped to rest a touch and have a drink of water when I saw an older hiker plodding down the trail towards me. His hiking gear was rather rag tag and all of it showed signs of wear. As he approached me, I waved. He came over and joined me on the fallen tree I was sitting on to rest. We chatted a bit asking each other about trail conditions and such. We were sharing a bit to eat and he was getting ready to move along when he said, “I almost forgot, Peace!” I looked up, and everything came into focus…”You’re the man they call Peace!” “Yeah”, he replied, “that’s me.” He was indeed special and had an aura of peace.

You really can’t blame the two disciples in today’s Gospel for not recognizing Jesus. After all, He had been crucified. He was dead. The challenge and opportunity for YOU DISCIPLE OF CHRIST is to cultivate an openness to encountering Jesus throughout the day. You walk with Him in prayer, certainly in Scripture and Eucharist, and in expected and unexpected encounters with the people walking life’s path with you. Pray the Lord open your heart and eyes to see HIM.

As a DISCIPLE, your job is to be an encounter with the risen Christ. When you meet the disciple you should meet the teacher. You are the disciple in whom others meet the teacher, Jesus. Walk close to the Lord. Return when you stray. Cultivate a willingness and humble desire that those who interact with you know Christ’s presence. That is not primary someone else’s job…the Pope, a nun or sister, a parish priest, it is yours. Not in any kind of wishy washy way but concretely in your flesh and blood. In the way you break bread and share the Lord and your love of Him. Let’s look back to last Sunday. Divine Mercy Sunday. At Sister Faustina’s Canonization, Saint John Paul relates Jesus told her “My daughter, tell people that I am love and mercy personified.” Can you strive to be love and mercy personified? Peace and Blessings in all things.

Love, Fr. Ian