John 20 v 19-13
19 In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, 'Peace be with you,'
20 and, after saying this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy at seeing the Lord,
21 and he said to them again, 'Peace be with you. 'As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.'
22 After saying this he breathed on them and said: Receive the Holy Spirit.
23 If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone's sins, they are retained.
(Solemnity) Pentecost Sunday • John 20:19-23
After his resurrection from the dead, Jesus breathed the Spirit into his disciples (v. 22). Then, after filling them with the power of the Spirit, he sent them out to proclaim to all the Good News that, by his death and resurrection, he has saved the world. He also sent them to give the fruits of his salvation – the forgiveness of sins – to all who turned to him in faith and repentance (v. 23).
On the Day of Pentecost Jesus poured the Spirit out on his apostles as they were gathered together in prayer (Acts 2:1). Filled again with the Spirit, they received the power to preach about the ‘mighty works of God’ in many languages (Acts 2:11). The mighty works of God are centred on the person of Jesus, so they proclaimed his resurrection: Jesus has conquered death! They proclaimed that the Father has given Jesus, the first-born from the dead (Col. 1:18), the power to give life to all who believe in him (John 5:21). They proclaimed that God, in Jesus Christ, has reconciled the world to himself and established a new creation, a new order of being.
Then the apostles invited those listening to them to receive the fruits of Jesus’ salvation into their own lives: to ‘be reconciled to God’ (2 Cor. 5:20) and become ‘a new creation’ (2 Cor. 5:17). In this new order of creation all can enter into an intimate relationship with God, a relationship in which God becomes their Father and they become God’s beloved, adopted children. In this relationship, delivered from the power of death, they no longer live in the fear of death (Heb. 2:15). They are to believe in Jesus as their Saviour and ask him to fill them with the Holy Spirit.
Today the Church celebrates the Father’s gift of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is given to the Church to communicate to us the things of Jesus (John 16:15). He makes Jesus known to us (1 Cor. 12:3). He communicates to us all the fruits of salvation that Jesus gained for the human race by his saving death and life-giving resurrection. How wonderful that we can receive the power of the Spirit from Jesus! Turn to him in faith and receive the Spirit from him.
Jesus, my Saviour and my Lord. Breathe your Spirit upon me and fill me with your forgiveness, salvation, life and peace.
After his resurrection from the dead, Jesus breathed the Spirit into his disciples (v. 22). Then, after filling them with the power of the Spirit, he sent them out to proclaim to all the Good News that, by his death and resurrection, he has saved the world. He also sent them to give the fruits of his salvation – the forgiveness of sins – to all who turned to him in faith and repentance (v. 23).
On the Day of Pentecost Jesus poured the Spirit out on his apostles as they were gathered together in prayer (Acts 2:1). Filled again with the Spirit, they received the power to preach about the ‘mighty works of God’ in many languages (Acts 2:11). The mighty works of God are centred on the person of Jesus, so they proclaimed his resurrection: Jesus has conquered death! They proclaimed that the Father has given Jesus, the first-born from the dead (Col. 1:18), the power to give life to all who believe in him (John 5:21). They proclaimed that God, in Jesus Christ, has reconciled the world to himself and established a new creation, a new order of being.
Then the apostles invited those listening to them to receive the fruits of Jesus’ salvation into their own lives: to ‘be reconciled to God’ (2 Cor. 5:20) and become ‘a new creation’ (2 Cor. 5:17). In this new order of creation all can enter into an intimate relationship with God, a relationship in which God becomes their Father and they become God’s beloved, adopted children. In this relationship, delivered from the power of death, they no longer live in the fear of death (Heb. 2:15). They are to believe in Jesus as their Saviour and ask him to fill them with the Holy Spirit.
Today the Church celebrates the Father’s gift of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is given to the Church to communicate to us the things of Jesus (John 16:15). He makes Jesus known to us (1 Cor. 12:3). He communicates to us all the fruits of salvation that Jesus gained for the human race by his saving death and life-giving resurrection. How wonderful that we can receive the power of the Spirit from Jesus! Turn to him in faith and receive the Spirit from him.
Jesus, my Saviour and my Lord. Breathe your Spirit upon me and fill me with your forgiveness, salvation, life and peace.
Breathe on me breath of God
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