The apostles entered very exciting and chaotic times after the death of Jesus. The risen Jesus breathed new life into their mission, and they found in themselves astonishing strength and power and a sprinkle of doubt. 

A spiritual writer once said, “All problems are psychological, all solutions are spiritual.”

The gospel isn't words to put in a sacred book, saved for holy times and places. Scripture is a toolbox, or the glove compartment, or a backpack in which we keep the things we truly need on hand, every day.

As the Easter season plays out, we observe that the disciples “see” Jesus in all the old familiar places—when they gather together, when they break the bread, when they preach the Good News, and when they heal the sick.

The apostles were confused and frightened even before the risen Jesus appeared in their midst. But as he often did, he told them, “Be not afraid,” and then he breathed on them.

It is true that a lot of us get it wrong a lot of the time, but every so often, like the apostles and the earliest disciples of the risen Christ, we actually live in a way that would make Jesus proud.

Because we have not seen the physical, resurrected Jesus, we might be tempted to make Jesus’ Resurrection more of a theological concept rather than the core of our lived-out faith.

Our Lord breathed the Holy Spirit on us for the forgiveness of sins. Let us pray together for the faith we need to forgive as we are forgiven.

With the words “Peace be with you,” the risen Jesus greets his disciples. “As the Father has sent me, so I send you”—his mission has become that of the disciples.

Christ has no body on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which Christ’s compassion for the world is to look out; yours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good; and yours are the hands with which he is to bless us now.  —Saint Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582)