In today's Gospel we learn about how Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to his apostles so they would have the courage and wisdom to do as Jesus did and make disciples of all nations.
Come Holy Spirit, fill our hearts and our minds. Fill us with your peace, love, and understanding. Help us to hear God's message today and recognize His voice in our daily activities. Amen
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, 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 forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAg7VEkNZiM (Accredited to Catholic Kids Media)
Say: When Jesus appeared to his disciples after his Resurrection from the dead, his first words to them were a greeting of peace. This was welcome news to the disciples. Let's listen to today's Gospel to find out why this was such welcome news to the disciples.
Ask: Why might Jesus' greeting of peace have been so welcome to his disciples? (They were gathered in the upper room in fear; they had witnessed Jesus' death on the Cross). Say: As witnesses to Jesus' death, Jesus' disciples had been very much a part of a situation of conflict. They gathered together in fear, perhaps because they thought that some people would seek their deaths as well. They very much needed to hear Jesus' words of peace and reassurance.
Say: The feast of Pentecost celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus' first disciples. This same Holy Spirit is still with us. After breathing upon them and giving them the gift of the Holy Spirit, what does Jesus tell his disciples to do? (to forgive sins)
Say: Just as Jesus sent his disciples to forgive the sins of others, so too we are sent to bring peace to the world. We also have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us with this task.
Say: Looking back at the situation of conflict we talked about at the beginning, what might the Holy Spirit lead us to do to help bring peace to this situation of conflict? (Accept all reasonable answers. If appropriate, make a choice to do one of these actions as a group.)
Conclude by praying together that the Holy Spirit will continue to work through us to bring peace to the world. Pray together today's psalm, or The Prayer to the Holy Spirit.
Father in heaven, for the sake of bringing others closer to you, we give you today, all that we think and do and say, and we join it with all that was done by Jesus Christ, your Son. Amen
