April 24, 2022
“...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 shall forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you shall retain are retained.’”
Following Easter, we find many wonderful moments when the Risen Jesus presented Himself to the apostles and His friends. We open the door to the upper room, see the flowers and gardener at the empty tomb, sit for breakfast at the shore of the sea of Galilee, and walk with Cleofas on the road to Emmaus.
I ask, where is my Easter faith, urging me to stay close to the Risen Christ. Do I have His gift of the Holy Spirit in me? Live the moment.
by Rev. William J. Reilly