Receive the Holy Spirit

 

John 20:19-23

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

¹⁹ 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!” ²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

²¹ Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” ²² And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Today we culminate a journey that began 90 days ago on Ash Wednesday.  Hard to believe, but we have traveled to the heart of our Christian Faith...repentance, salvation, mission. Twice in this short passage, Jesus wishes us Peace, sends us on our mission to continue his work, giving us the Holy Spirit to forgive sins and bring us to a new level of union and holiness with him. Pentecost is often referred to as the Birthday of the Church, and rightly so, for it is up to us now to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit to bring all men and women to Jesus.  A huge task, not always faithfully carried out, but year after year we celebrate this Holy Spirit Moment to help us live this commission. Are we up for it?

Bro. Rene

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in us the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and we shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the earth. O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit instructed the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy your consolations, through Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

 Pentecost Mass Preface