“Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” John 19:21-23
Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit upon His disciples, making them Apostles and giving them (and future priests of His Church) the power of the Father to forgive sins. Many believe this is the first time the Holy Spirit is breathed into man. But, I contend differently.
“then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being.” Genesis 2:7
God breaths His Holy Spirit to give life. He gave life and a soul to the first man in the beginning and then, later through His Son, the Father breaths life into man again after Easter.
He breaths life into man in the locked room? Yes. By giving His priests the power of the Father to forgive sins, Jesus gives life again to mankind. In sin, we are dead. But, in the mercy of God through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which is only obtained through a Catholic Priest, man is given new life.
The Sacrament of Mercy is the breath of God’s life giving power to bring man back from the tomb which he has set for himself by his own sinfulness. On this day, God gives the power of true life in fullness to man through His chosen apostles and their descendants. Just like the first man on that first day, we are given freedom and joy of again waking in the presence of the Father. We can stand with the Holy Trinity in confidence. The Sacrament of Reconciliation and God’s Divine Mercy is THAT strong.
Let the Father breath new life into you through the breath of the Holy Spirit in the Divine Mercy of Jesus Christ. Breath deeply of this eternal life!
Go to the confessional and seek the mercy of God. Let Him bring you back to life!