In a very well known Gospel scene, the Risen Lord appears to his disciples locked in the Upper Room. They are ridden with doubt and fear, and even shame, for, with one exception, they had all abandoned Jesus in his hour of need. Yet, the Risen Lord stands in their midst and says, “Peace be with you!” The Lord does not rebuke them or condemn them, but gets right to the point – and the point is this: the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus’ whole mission is all about mercy.
