St Ignatius was deeply attentive to the value of repetition. For him, repetition was not simply repeating a prayer because we had failed to understand it the first time. Rather, it was a way of allowing an important grace or insight to sink more deeply into our hearts and lives.
Perhaps Jesus is doing
something similar in this Gospel passage. He repeats his greeting of peace to the disciples, not because they failed to hear him, but because the gift he offers them needs time to take root within them.
At times, we too can struggle to receive the peace Christ offers. The tensions and wounds within us may feel too raw. Some hurts may be difficult to release, while others are still unfolding and need time, patience
and healing.
Yet there is something deeply consoling in the persistence of Christ. He does not speak peace only once. He continues to draw near to us in the midst of our pain, fear and uncertainty, patiently leading our hearts toward freedom and healing.
As we pray with this passage, perhaps we can ask ourselves:
What wounds or burdens in my life most need to hear the peace of Christ today?
