A sermon on Pentecost John 20-19:23
By Fr. Mike Paraniuk
HCP columnist
A rabbi, a priest, and a minister were all asked the same question: “What would you like people to say about you after you die?”
The priest said: “I hope that people say that I helped them to understand the absolute love that God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit offers to them.”
The minister said: “When I die, I hope that people will say I saved many souls by helping them receive Jesus as their personal Savior.”
Finally, the rabbi was asked, "What do you hope people will say about you after you have died?” The rabbi answered: “Look, he’s still breathing!”
On the evening of His Resurrection, Jesus appeared to His Apostles who were scared out of their wits. He came to show them He truly is alive. He came to offer them forgiveness. When Jesus said, "Peace be with you," He was also implying, "I forgive you for deserting Me. I forgive you for when I needed you the most you abandoned Me."
The Apostles had to be petrified when they saw Jesus.
They thought He was a ghost seeking revenge. Jesus reassured them, "Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” (Luke 24:39.)
This first meeting of Jesus with the Apostles teaches an important lesson. All of us are insufficient. We are all needy. We need help to live our lives on earth every day.
Getting through the craziness in life does not depend on who you are but rather who are you with. Jesus appearing to the Apostles offers peace that God is still with you even when you fail Him, even through your worst sin. Jesus did not go through that locked door to bring revenge but rather reconciliation.
To "seal the deal" Jesus breathed His own life into them. The "breath of God" is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God's promise to be sufficient for you. God always gives you enough to overcome the things in life that hurt you. God is sufficient for all your needs. There is nothing that happens today that you and God cannot handle together.
I understand more clearly why after Jesus breathed on them the power of the Holy Spirit, He said to the Apostles, "Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them." (John 20:23.)
Jesus knew the Apostles would not be the only ones to betray Him. All of us betray Jesus with our own sins. Jesus extended His Mercy to everyone by giving His Church the power of God's forgiveness.
There is a true story that shows how the Holy Spirit breaths in our lives.
A mother took her boy to a Paderewski piano concert. Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose from his seat and explored his way through a door marked "NO ADMITTANCE."
The mother returned to her seat after visiting a friend in another row. She panicked that her child was missing. Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway piano on stage.
The mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently hitting the keys for "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."
At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance. He quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy’s ear, "Don’t quit. Keep playing."
Then leaning over the boy, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in the bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side to play the obligato. Together, the old master and the young novice transformed a frightening situation into a wonderful experience. The audience was mesmerized."
The Holy Spirit says to you, "Don't Quit. Keep Believing. I'll take care of the rest."
Happy Pentecost.