Perhaps nothing is as distinctive about a cat than its purr. It's an automatic response to contentment and pleasure in the species. Baxter purrs at the drop of a hat. Scratch his neck or chin or back, and he purrs. Turn on the faucet for a drink, and he purrs. Offer him a treat, and he purrs. He sometimes purrs for no apparent reason. He just rolls over on the floor and purrs, or sits looking out the window purring. I guess Baxter is a happy cat.
And his happiness is contagious. When I pet Baxter and he begins to purr, it is therapy for any stress, frustration or upset I might be feeling. Hearing that soothing sound and feeling the quiet vibration through his body communicate a peace and contentment that I can't resist. No matter how bad the day might have been, it seems to be calmed by that distinctive tone and rhythm. It says that a better condition is only a scratch away. It puts the troubles of the day into a different perspective. Hearing that sound and feeling that tickle says there's a better time ahead, another chance at getting it right. Forget what is past, and enjoy the little pleasures of the present moment. Tomorrow, we can begin again, fresh and hopeful.
The risen Lord wants to have a similar effect on us. He says time and again in His resurrection appearances, “Peace.” Despite our fears, despite our pain and disappointments, despite the marks of past hurts, despite the threats we face and the worries they create, “Peace.” This word of resurrected life is not a casual greeting like “Hello.” It's an invitation to come and sit for a while. Listen to the sound of God speaking to us. Feel the deep sense of peace that comes with knowing that the worst has happened, and we didn't just survive it. We were transformed by it. We have become a people of God's very own Spirit. We are claimed by the divine life in baptism and that mark can never be erased. It vibrates in our souls when our conscience guides our thoughts and deeds, when our instinct is to do the generous thing and not the self-serving one, when we find a reason to begin each day with hope that good things still await us. We feel it when we forgive another, when we have compassion for the poor and suffering, when we find the courage to stand up to wrongdoing and injustice. We hear the Lord's peace when we listen in silence to our own hearts, and they are full of a presence that overwhelms us. Like the purr of a cat, the peace of the Risen One is contagious. It gets inside us and changes our outlook, disposition and actions. It is new life.
