It’s Good To Be Breathed On

April 11, 2021

From today’s reading…

…and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. ‘As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.’ After saying this he breathed on them and said: Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone’s sins, they are retained.’” John 20:21-23

Jesus is speaking to the Apostles. (In verse 24 John writes that Thomas, “who was not one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.”)

Jesus gives them a special blessing—the most super of super powers in the Holy Spirit—and He commissions them to forgive and retain sins.

In other words, He ordained them, He promoted them, and He gave them the power to hear and forgive sins.

In one sentence He created the sacrament of Holy Orders, Confirmation, and Reconciliation, because Jesus knows that giving us tangible ways to stay in grace is the only way to…

Stay the course.Keep the faith.Endure.

Now go sell something.