On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

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Little people have a surprising ability to be distracted by the smallest of things. There is a principle in early childhood that I fondly refer to as the “fly in the room” principle. If there is something as minute as a small fly in a room full of little people, nothing constructive can be further said or done until that fly is removed. The teacher can try to distract the children, convince the children that the fly will not bother them but until that fly is out of sight, it controls their attention and can negatively impact their behavior. The “fly in the room” principle applies to a toy that escaped pick up time, new shoes (especially those that light up) or a passing ambulance on the street. Small, seemingly benign, irregularities become fierce distractions until they are handled.

In our reading this week, Jesus gives his disciples, including modern day believers, a mission. Jesus says that he is sending each of us out to tell others that he is the risen Savior and our solution to sin. He sends us out to be Gospel lights in the darkness; his Easter trumpets that never stop sounding. What a meaningful but humbling mission! Someone may come to your mind right now. This person may be a parent of one of your children or perhaps someone who works with you. Maybe this person believes he is a good person or a “good enough” person that could be saved from hell. Maybe she believes that a “good” God would not do such a thing as cast anyone away from himself. Whatever the excuse, these lost souls need Jesus. They need to hear the Easter trumpet! Jesus died. Jesus rose! For me! For you!

However, this is where the “fly in the room” principle kicks in. We let popularity, uncomfortableness or apathy distract us from our mission of sharing Jesus. Our distractions quickly become reliable excuses. Then Jesus whispers, “Peace to you!” He is with us. His peace settles our nervous hearts. His grace to each of us clears the distractions. His love to us narrows our focus toward this lost soul. The fly in the room is no match for a believer who is mindful of God’s grace to his own heart.

As we celebrate this Easter, may the peace that passes understanding settle our hearts and minds. May the empty tomb and God’s love to us drive away the distractions that keep us from sounding our Easter trumpets to those near and far.

Prayer: