Today in the Gospel it is 3rd time when God breathes on men.
GospelJN 20:19-23
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.”
First time in book of genesis God breathed on Adam and put life into him
Second in book of Ezekiel.
Ezekiel has a vision God breathing into dry bones and brings them back to life
3rd time Jesus breathes on his disciples and commends them to bring forgiveness to the world- Ministry of reuniting.
Apostles where expecting Holy Spirit. They finally got it that they cannot do anything on their own.
Few days ago they betrayed their Master,
Now they are in fear of being persecuted
-these events make them open to receive Holy Spirit.
…
Holy Spirit calls us to be more real people
If you need to go confession, go to confession, don’t make excuses for yourself
If you don’t know how to handle something, acknowledge that, ask for help,
Other people, God, do something, don’t pretend everything is ok
In the acts of Apostles, we see that disciples received gift of glossolalia
-everyone hears them speaking in their own language
Holy Spirit brings with his presence clarity, communication, understanding,
How many of us struggle with communication?
Most of us feel disconnected with God. We don’t know how to pray. How to talk to him, how to listen to him, how to hear him.. We don’t have time to make that communication working
Many of us struggle with communication with people who are important to us, people whom we love
How often you say quietly to yourself :
My spouse, my child, my friend don’t really understand me…
And how much we yearn to be understood
And last we are so disconnected with ourselves..
We don’t listen enough to needs of our bodies
Not enough sleep, not right food, not enough leisure, run run run…
As Holy Spirit connects disciple with thousands of people in the city
He is also awaiting to connect us :
With him, with people around us, with ourselves
For apostles it began with crushing events when they betrayed Jesus
It shocked them enough to let them see that they are not as good as they think, that they need breath of God, breath of new life in them,
For us..
It begins with continued prayer: God I need you.
I don’t know how to handle it. I don’t know how to make world around me working better.
I don’t know how to love. I don’t how to forgive. I don’t know how to live my life. I’m lost..
Come Holy Spirit
Be my guide. Be breath of life for my dry bones.
Be warming fire for my cold heart
Be vision for my narrow thinking, narrow plans
Be my advocate before myself.. Help me to see that I am loved.
That I have purpose. That I am Gods child.
Come Holy Spirit. Bring true live into my life.
vessel4him 