On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, Peace be with you. When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.

Introductory Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, through the faith you have given me, I am able to conquer all fear with the peace and joy that only your resurrection can give. My hope gives me the courage to fearlessly share that joy with others. I love you above all else, Lord. I strive to unlock the door to my heart so that you may fill my soul with your grace.

Petition: Grant me an absolute confidence in the victory of the resurrection.

1. "The doors of the house were locked."  The doors of the house were locked. The apostles had many reasons to fear. Their Lord and Master whom they had loved, followed, and learned from, had been betrayed by one of them, handed over by the Chief Priests to be tortured and killed by the Romans. It was logical to think that the wrath of Christ's enemies would now be directed towards his followers.

Yet an even deeper fear darkened the hearts of the apostles, one that did not depend on external circumstances. Their strength and their hope, which was Christ, were gone. They were left with the keen awareness of their weakness and sin, that same awareness that made all of them ask if they were going to be the ones to betray Christ during the Last Supper (see Matthew 26: 22). This awareness was then confirmed shortly afterwards: like Peter, all the apostles abandoned Christ. Even John fled in the Garden of Gethsemane. The apostles' fear of themselves and their sinfulness locked the door of their hearts.

2. "Peace be with you." Peace be with you' were words more powerful than death. The Risen Christ's presence among the apostles brought light where there had only been darkness. The apostles were so surprised and startled that Christ found it necessary to repeat his greeting. He is patient yet persistent in his love for his followers. Their doubt was overcome by the stark, empirical evidence of the Risen Lord standing before them.

Yet this peace granted to the apostles, was meant to endure throughout history. Christ's gift of peace is the person of the Holy Spirit. This peace the world can neither understand nor take away. It is upon this foundation that the Pope so often repeats Christ's exhortation, Be not afraid.' Be not afraid of the world, be not afraid of death, and be not afraid of your own weaknesses and sin.

3. "As the Father has sent me, so I send you."  The Holy Spirit present in our souls will not allow us to remain where we are. If we only allow him, he will become a burning force within us making us exclaim with St. Paul: Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!' (1 Corinthians 9: 16). This drive is not based on fear but on the passion motivated by love: Come find what I've found, the pearl of great price!' (See Matthew 13:46).

Paradoxically, it is precisely the joy of Christ's resurrection that brings one to share in his cross. Now, partaker of the same mission, one desires to sacrifice oneself out of love: 'If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you' (John 15:20). However, if this is true, so too Christ's promise: But take courage; I have conquered the world!" (John 16:33).

Conversation: Allow me, Christ, to show my gratitude for the gift of the Holy Spirit through attentiveness to his inspirations. Let me enjoy the peace that moves me outside of self in the service to others. Let me never mistake this peace for inactivity or lack of difficulty.
 
Questionnaire:

1. What is stopping me from opening totally the doors of my life to Christ, fear, human respect, pride? What practical thing can I do today to bring Christ more into my life?
 
2. What are my main fears, worries and concerns? Have I taken them to Christ, am I doing what he wants?

3. Do I realize that the Holy Spirit necessarily turns us into missionaries? What am I doing to spread what I have received?