June 12, 2011, 1:08am
MANILA, Philippines — 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.”
Reflection:
Peace be with you. Twice Jesus says to the disciples: “Peace be with
you.” Only after that does Jesus breathe on them the Holy Spirit. What
follows is the power to forgive. Peace is the prerequisite to receiving
the Holy Spirit. After the Spirit is breathed on us, we are given the
power to forgive.
To understand the Holy Spirit is to receive peace first and then
forgiveness of sins afterwards. Peace comes from Jesus. Forgiveness
comes from that peace Jesus gives. When we are at peace, revenge
evaporates and hatred ceases, and then it is easy to forgive.
To find Jesus is to look at the cross. To see God is to wonder at his
creation. To feel the Holy Spirit is to experience true peace and
receive forgiveness.
Forgive one person today.
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2011,” ST. PAULS Philippines,
7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.,); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax
895-7328; E-mail: books@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.p
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