Parish of the  Precious Blood

  May 20, 2018  
   John 20:19-23          

   The season of Easter concludes with today’s celebration,
   the feast of Pentecost. On Pentecost we celebrate the descent
   of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles gathered in the upper
   room in Jerusalem; this event marks the beginning of the
   Church. The story of Pentecost is found in the Acts of the
   Apostles, today’s first reading. The account in today’s
   Gospel, John 20:19-23, also recounts how Jesus gave the
   gift of the Holy Spirit to his disciples. Yet the event in John’s
   Gospel takes place on Easter Sunday. There is no need to try to reconcile these two
   accounts. It is true we know that after his death, Jesus fulfilled his promise to send
   to his disciples a helper, an Advocate, who would enable them to be his witnesses
   throughout the world.

   In the context of the feast of Pentecost, John 20:19-23 reminds us about the integral
   connection between the gifts of peace and forgiveness and the action of the Holy
   Spirit. Jesus greets his disciples with the gift of peace. Jesus then commissions his
   disciples to continue the work that he has begun: “As the Father has sent me, so I
   send you.” He breathes the Holy Spirit upon the disciples and sends them to
   continue his work of reconciliation through the forgiveness of sins. Jesus’ act of
   breathing the Holy Spirit upon the apostles mirrors God’s act of breathing life into
   Adam. In fact, both the Greek and Hebrew words for “spirit” can also be translated
   as “breath.” This Gospel reminds us that the Church is called to be a reconciling
   presence in the world. The reconciling presence of Christ is celebrated in the
   Church’s sacramental life. In the Sacrament of Baptism, we are cleansed of sin and
   become a new creation in Christ. In the Sacrament of Penance, the Church
   celebrates the mercy of God through the forgiveness of sins. This reconciling
   presence is also to be a way of life for Christians. In situations of conflict, we are to
   be agents of peace and harmony among people.

                                                                                                   Blessings,
                              
                                                                                                   Fr Dave

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