Octave of Easter

The first thing the risen Christ said to his disciples was Peace be unto you. That is, to fearful, faithless fools who forgot everything they should have remembered. He had told them all these things would happen, and then the angels told them, and still they did not believe. And in addition, they had all forsaken him and fled, denied they knew him, and lost all hope. But Jesus says Peace; that is, he forgives them.  And the Sunday after Easter he also forgives Thomas, who had refused to believe all the rest. And this forgiveness he gives them to preach to all the world, and forgive sins in his stead; that is, to give this peace to all the world. So let us embrace it; for we are also fools who have repeatedly failed, and have been equally fickle and should have believed. But this is the Gospel: the delivery from the apostolic messengers of his mercy and forgiveness. In Baptism, in the Supper, in the word of absolution, in preaching. Sermon for the Sunday after Easter.
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