Pentecost Sunday
May 23, 1999
Reading I: Acts 2:1-11 II: 1Cor 12:3-7,12-13
Gospel
John 20:19-23

19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."
20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you."
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."


Interesting Details
One Main Point

The disciples receive the Holy Spirit and Jesus' mission.

Jesus breathed on the disciples to give them new life as children of God. With this new life or new force, they will be able to fight against sin or the forces of evil.


Reflections
  1. See Jesus saying to me "Peace be with you" repeatedly. Notice his tone, his gestures, his eyes, and so on.
  2. Feel Jesus' breath on me. Have I received such a "holy force"? Have I ever felt it, and if so, when?
  3. With that holy force, do I struggle against sin or the evil force (my own evil tendencies as well as those in the greater society around me)?

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A synthesis by the Vietnamese Christian Life (Dong Hanh) Community

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