“PEACE be with you.”

These are the first words of the Risen Lord. Not words of triumph, not words of power, but words of peace. The Lord speaks peace to a world wounded by wars and conflicts that continue to bring fear and suffering to many people. He speaks peace to a world struggling with corruption and injustice, to our nation divided by misinformation, lies, and blind obedience.

The Lord is risen. He is victorious over sin and death, over everything that separates us from God and from one another. But His resurrection is not only a victory to celebrate; it is also a mission to live. For the Risen Lord continues His saving work in the world today, and He calls us to share in that work.

The peace He gives—the Shalom of the Risen Lord—is not just a greeting, but a gift and a responsibility. He gives Peace to us and invites us to let it take flesh in our lives, to let it be seen in our kindness, in our courage to speak the truth, in our willingness to forgive, in our love for the poor and the forgotten, in our commitment to follow what He asks of us.

As we rejoice in the Lord’s Resurrection, may we also remember His words: “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” Let us go forth as bearers of His peace, His light, and His truth.

A blessed and joyful Easter to all.

Fr. Edilberto Cepe, C.Ss.R.
Redemptorist Province of Cebu Provincial Superior