Today’s Theme for Prayer – God Desires to Forgive Me
Deeper Sense of His Mercy for Me
Jn 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.”
Grace Prayed For
The grace of peace: Jesus’ first words to His disciples were “Peace be with you.” Pray for the grace of His peace to fill your heart and mind, especially when faced with fear and uncertainty.
Breathing New Life: The Spirit’s Empowering Presence
This post-Resurrection appearance of Jesus to His disciples is a powerful scene of intimacy, peace, and the empowering gift of the Holy Spirit. It takes place behind locked doors, where fear had gripped the disciples’ hearts. Imagine their astonishment when Jesus suddenly stands among them, offering His peace.
His first words, “Peace be with you,” are not merely a greeting but a profound declaration. He brings peace into their fear-filled space, a peace that transcends their circumstances. He then shows them His wounds, tangible proof of His suffering and victory over death. This intimate act reassures them, dispelling their doubts and filling them with joy.
But Jesus doesn’t just offer peace; He also gives them a mission. “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” He commissions them to continue His work, to be His presence in the world. This is a call to discipleship, to carry the message of love and forgiveness to all.
And to equip them for this mission, He breathes on them the Holy Spirit. This intimate act echoes the creation story in Genesis, signifying new life and divine empowerment. The Holy Spirit is the source of their strength, their guidance, and their authority to forgive sins.
This passage speaks to our own need for peace and empowerment. We too live in a world filled with fear and uncertainty. But Jesus offers us His peace, the same peace He offered His disciples. He invites us to encounter Him in the intimacy of our hearts, to experience His presence and receive His comfort.
He also calls us to be His witnesses, to share His love with the world. And He equips us with the Holy Spirit, the same Spirit that empowered the disciples. Through the Spirit, we receive the courage and strength to live out our faith and to be agents of His grace and forgiveness.
This passage is an invitation to step out of the shadows of fear and into the light of Christ’s peace. It’s a call to embrace our mission as His disciples, empowered by the Holy Spirit to be bearers of His love and forgiveness. Let us respond to this call with open hearts and willing spirits, allowing His peace to reign in our lives and guide our steps.
Growing in Intimacy with Jesus
Experiencing His Peace: Jesus’ greeting, “Peace be with you,” speaks directly to our anxieties and fears. Allowing His peace to permeate your heart creates a sense of closeness and trust. Spend time in quiet contemplation, inviting Him to speak peace into your circumstances and calm your troubled mind.
When Time Allows Reflect on the Posts in Library and Musings
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post