ALL BAPTISED IN THE ONE SPIRIT

PENTECOST SUNDAY - John 20:19-23

It was on the first day of the week, a Sunday evening. The disciples were gathered behind closed doors. John stresses that the doors were closed for fear of the Jews. Since that Sunday, the first day of the week became the day of the Lord for all generations. It was a new beginning, only possible with the risen Christ. He is the Prince of peace. That’s why he repeated twice: “Peace be with you”. We receive peace from Christ and peace only becomes a reality when we share it and become instruments of peace, the peace that comes from Christ.

Jesus entrusted to his disciples the same mission he had received from the Father: “As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.” This mission is the reason for the existence of the Church. Jesus goes on to repeat the same words for us today. We are being sent. It is not an easy task, since it implies following in the footsteps of Jesus. Then, Jesus breathed on them. At the beginning of time, God breathed the breath of life into the nostrils of man, for him to become a living creature (Gn 2:7). In the same manner, Jesus breathed on his disciples to make them a new creation filled with the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that makes the Church possible as a people reconciled between themselves and God. By giving them the Holy Spirit, Jesus entrusted the ministry of reconciliation to his disciples and constituted them witnesses of his victory over sin and death.

We must not forget that 

“In the one Spirit we were all baptised, Jews as well as Greeks, slaves as well as citizens, and one Spirit was given to us all to drink.” (1 Co 12:13).