And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit.” John 20:22 NABRE
The evangelist is telling of Jesus appearance to His disciples after His Easter Resurrection. They are surprised to see Him as He appears with them in a locked room. He tells them not to be afraid and frees them in Peace. Once they are peaceful Jesus breathes on them and they receive the Holy Spirit. In this moment those present are consecrated by God, they are divine missionaries for the message Jesus has shared and God desires be brought to the end of the world. These disciples now have the Spirit indwelling, God in them, God with them, God available to them, eternally. This divine communion mimics the communion Jesus and the Father have lived. Jesus’ breathing the Spirit on the disciples brings them into the divine communion with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit enlightens them, empowers them and brings them joy. Even in suffering they will experience joy. Doing the work of God is always joyful, even the cross brings joy to the disciples acting through the indwelling Spirit. We cannot live for God and not find great purpose and joy.
Now the disciples are united to Jesus and each other, a communion of love, purpose and mission. They will receive divine assistance in bringing the Jesus movement to those with whom they connect. The disciples are consecrated, as Jesus was consecrated, and they will always share in the life of Jesus, newly created, born from above. This Spirit is available to us, and we can be in communion with Jesus eternally. The breath of God brings life, it is how God created (see Genesis 2:7) and we will see it again in this new creation. God’s breath creates us new, eternally living beings.
Has the Spirit been breathed into you? Do you seek divine communion?
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