John 20:19-23

Acts 2:1-11

Psalm 104:1. 24. 29-30, 31-34

1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13 or Romans 8:8-17

John 20:19-23 or John 14:15-16, 23b-26

John 20:19-23

On the evening of that first day of the week,

when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,

for fear of the Jews,

Jesus came and stood in their midst

and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.

The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.

As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,

“Receive the Holy Spirit.

Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,

and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, you generously pour out your Spirit and offer the blessings of the forgiveness of sins and divine sonship to all humanity. You do not abandon your children when we sin, but promised to restore us to the blessing of your divine life. Bless me today and empower me to live according to your New Law of charity.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Gift of the Spirit on Easter Sunday: The Gospel narrates the initial giving of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles on the evening of Easter Sunday. Jesus had already appeared to Mary Magdalene and Simon Peter, but did not give the Spirit to either of them. He also appeared to Cleopas and another disciple on the way to Emmaus, but did not give them the Spirit. The risen Jesus waited until his appearance to the community of his disciples to give them all the gift of the Spirit, the blessing that was promised long ago to Abraham. “Through the Spirit, the disciples are united to the risen Jesus and receive a share in his own life, and thus in the divine communion” (Martin and Wright, The Gospel of John, 342). Just as God breathed life into creatures at the first creation, Jesus now breathes the Spirit into his disciples at their re-creation.

2. The Gift of the Spirit on Pentecost Sunday: The gift of the Spirit on the day of the Resurrection anticipates the fullness of the gift of the Spirit given 50 days later on the day of Pentecost. The Jewish feast came to be associated with the gift of the Law of Moses (Exodus 19:1-6). The giving of the Law on Mount Sinai was characterized by three signs: a great sound, streams of fire, and miraculous, intelligible speech. The same three signs are manifested when the apostles gather together on the first Pentecost after the Resurrection (Pimentel, Witnesses of the Messiah, 30). The gift of the Spirit at Pentecost parallels the giving of the Law at Sinai and also fulfills the prophecies of Jeremiah and Ezekiel about a new Spirit and a new Law that would be written on the hearts of God’s people. “Pentecost fulfills the prophecies of Ezekiel and Jeremiah and is, therefore, not merely a repetition of the Sinai theophany but greatly surpasses it, for the Spirit now indwells the People of God as the New Law of the New Covenant” Pimentel, Witnesses of the Messiah, 31-32).

3. The Gifts of the Spirit Given to Us: In his First Letter to the Corinthians, Paul reflects on how the diversity of spiritual gifts is given through the same Holy Spirit. He associates different workings with God the Father, different forms of service with Jesus, our Lord, and different gifts with the one Spirit. All of us have different personalities, with our virtues and vices, our strengths and our weaknesses. And the Spirit works with each one of us for the benefit of the Church and humanity. The Spirit is a generous giver and can do marvelous things with a docile soul.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you ascended to the Father so that you could send the Holy Spirit upon your Church. You rejoiced in the Spirit while on earth and desire that I, too, rejoice in the Spirit and glorify the Father by my words and actions. Help me welcome the Spirit into my life today.

Living the Word of God: Have I ever thanked God for the gift and seal of the Holy Spirit that I  received in the Sacrament of Confirmation? Can I spend some time in prayer today recalling this gift and its effect in my life? How have I been a soldier of Christ? How have I been strengthened to bear witness to Jesus? How have I been made spiritual and docile to the action of the Holy Spirit?