In Chapter 20 of John’s Gospel we read that, on the evening of the day Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, he appeared to a group of disciples who had gathered together, and he greeted them with the words “Peace be with you”. After the trauma of seeing Jesus arrested, humiliated, abused and crucified, the thoughts of his followers must have been in turmoil. They must have longed for peace in their hearts. In our troubled world today, when many people are anxious and afraid, this peace that Jesus offers is something we all need. This is the peace of God which can calm our fears and help us to weather the storms of life. On one occasion a group of disciples were literally caught in a storm at sea, with Jesus asleep in the boat. They awoke Jesus and he spoke words of peace to the wind and the waves, stilling the storm and calming the fears of the disciples.
The risen Christ, after speaking words of peace, breathed on his disciples, saying “Receive the Holy Spirit”. Seven weeks later, the disciples gathered together for the Feast of Pentecost, and the Holy Spirit came to them in a far more dramatic way, experienced as wind and fire. From this moment they were empowered to share the good news of Jesus and the Church was launched upon the world. The Church celebrates the gift of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday, sometimes known as Whitsun. The gift of the Holy Spirit is a promise for all Christians. No matter how the Spirit comes, as wind and fire or the gentle breath of God, the result is transformed lives. The Spirit shows us what is wrong in our lives and helps us to change, and assures us of God’s forgiveness and love.
A third thing Jesus said to his disciples on the day of resurrection was that, if they forgave anyone’s sins, they were forgiven, but if they retained the sins of any, they were retained. This Bible passage is usually included in ordination services. It is an immense privilege and an awesome responsibility to pronounce words of forgiveness during worship, or to offer reassurance of forgiveness and the chance of a new beginning to a troubled individual who is sorry for what is wrong in his or her life. Although that is part of a priest’s role, all of us are called to exercise forgiveness towards those who hurt or upset us. When anyone retains sins and holds on to feelings of resentment, a barrier is built up, making it hard to come close to God and others. An unforgiving spirit can eat away at us, causing untold damage to the person who is unforgiving as much as to those who are on the receiving end of a judgmental attitude. In the First Letter to the Corinthians chapter 13, Paul writes, “Love does not keep a record of wrongs” * and Jesus taught us to pray, “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us”.
At the heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is forgiveness of sins, the grace to forgive others and God’s love poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, bringing us peace. It is a peace that the world cannot give, and a peace that the world desperately needs.
With my love and prayers
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Good News Bible Glynis Hetherington
