Peace Be With You

“What are we going to do now? Just hide in here for the rest of our lives?”

“No. Everything will calm down soon enough. Once this becomes yesterday news, and everyone forgets about what happened, then we can go about our business and return to what we were before all this madness started.”

“How long will that take?”

“Not long. You know how fickle people are. They get caught up with one fad, then grow tired of it, and move on to another. Heck, we fell for it, didn’t we? Soon he will be old news, nothing more than a memory, a joke, a ghost.”

“No! Jesus was no joke. He is real. He is the Messiah. Mary told us he has risen. I believe her!”

“John, stop it! You’re as mad as she is—wanting to believe in him so badly, you suspend all reality!! She’s a woman. She is delusional. We can’t believe a word she says. Yes, he’s been taken from the tomb, but that doesn’t mean that he has risen. She didn’t see what she claims to have seen! She couldn’t have! He’s dead! He’s not coming back!”

“No! He was real. He is real! Peter! You knew he was the Messiah. You said so yourself!!!”

“Shut up! Shut up! I was wrong! Is that what you want to hear me say!!! I was wrong!!! There, I said it!! He was just a man and nothing more. He talked a good game. He made us believe in him. He made us want something better. He made us believe that we could have a better life by following him. We left all we had to follow him. But it was all talk. He had no power to change the world as he claimed. If he had, he would still be here…among us, but he’s not. He was just a man—no one special. Best that we just forget all about him, and go back to the way things were before this madness started.”

“Peace be with you……. What, no greetings for me? ….. ah….Still bickering I see. Have you forgotten me already? Didn’t Mary tell you I had returned?”

“Yes, but…..”

“Ah…I understand…You didn’t believe her. She told me you wouldn’t.”

“Yes, but…”

“Hush now. Why are you troubled? Why do questions arise in your hearts? Calm yourself. Do not be afraid. I bring you peace.”

“Yes, but….”

“Come. Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.”

“Yes, but….”

“Ah….I understand….Let’s start over…..Peace be with you.”