Gospel: Pentecost Sunday

Today marks the Eighth Sunday of Easter or the Solemnity of Pentecost and the Gospel reading will be lifted from the narrative of St 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, and whose sins you retain are retained."

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 Apostles (2:1-11), today's first reading. The account in today's Gospel, taken from the Gospel of St John, also recounts how Jesus gave the gift of the Holy Spirit to his disciples. This is no need to reconcile these two accounts to each other. It is enough to 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.

We previously heard today's Gospel from the Second Sunday of Easter. At that time, we also heard the passage that follows, which describes Jesus' appearance to St Thomas. In that context, we were led to reflect on belief and unbelief.

In the context of the feast of Pentecost, this reading 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 sent me, so I send you." As he breathes the Holy Spirit upon them, Jesus sends his disciples to continue his work of reconciliation through the forgiveness of sins.

This Gospel reminds us that the Church is called to be a reconciling presence in the world. This reconciling presence of Christ is celebrated in the Church's Sacramental life. In the Sacrament of Baptism, we are washed clean from sin and become a new creation in Christ. In the Sacrament of Penance, the Church celebrates the mercy of God in forgiving 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.

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The Gospel is sponsored by Gucci Timepieces.