Importance and the implications of breathing of the Holy Spirit on Apostles

Gospel Thoughts

*Easter Season :  Pentecost Sunday*

*GOSPEL -  Jn 20:19-23*

*First Reading - Acts 2:1-11*

*SECOND READING 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13*

*Importance and the implications of breathing of the Holy Spirit on Apostles*

*1) Need and necessity of the breath*

Human life can't be sustained without the breath. The moment the breath is out the human being no longer survives. 

In other words breath is life itself. God gave life to Adam by putting breath into his nostrils

*Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.* Gen 2:7.

*2) Placing of Breath is the recreation by God*

In the Book of Genesis God created human being from dust and placed the breath of Life into his nostrils to become a living being 

Because of His fall, the entire human kind became slave to sin and finally lost the breath of life which could make him/holy 

That's why God had to recreate the human being by placing once again the breath of Life into his/her being 

So breathing of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles is equal to God placing the breath of Life into the nostrils of Adam 

Here through His Son Jesus Christ, God the Father recreates the Human being by breathing the Holy Spirit on the Apostles 

*3) The breath is the Holy Spirit*

The breathing on Apostles, by Jesus is not an ordinary breathing 

He breathed out His own divine life on Apostles, so that they may become life thier Master

So the breath is God Himself and through the breathing, God Himself came a dwelt among them 

*4) The Need of the Breath - Holy Spirit*

From the Gospel it is very clear that the breath is necessary for the following things 

*For Peace* As soon as Jesus appeared among them He said *Peace be with You*. One needs this divine  breath to create peace and to live with this peace 

*For the Ministry* : Jesus Says As the Father has sent me So I send you 

We have been sent by the Lord to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to build the Kingdom of God. This ministry is possible only through this breath - Holy Spirit

*To Forgive Sins*: One of the important things which is highlighted in today's Gospel. 

The breath is really necessary for the forgiveness of sins and to destroy the reign of Devil 

*5)  Special moment when the Holy Spirit is breathed on us*

*Baptism* The Holy Spirit is specially breathed on us, who give us new life in Christ

*Confirmation* A special sacrament and the special moment through which the Holy Spirit is fully breathed on us to profess our faith and to bear witness for the same

*Anointing of the Sick and Holy Orders* These sacraments once again give us the special privilege to receive the Holy Spirit

*Reconciliation, Eucharist, Matrimony* Through these sacraments also we receive the Holy Spirit

*6) I have been recreated by God through this divine breath*

How do I live my recreated life at present with the divine breath?

What is the influence of this divine breath in my life? 

Do I feel the presence of God within me though this divine breath? 

What are the things that my life exhibits to show or to prove that there is divine breath within me? 

*7) Pentecost is recreation of Human Being*

In every Pentecost event God tries to recreate the Human being by breathing on us the Holy Spirit

Tomorrow as we celebrate the Pentecost let's us remember that God is recreating us once again to give us better Holy life and let's cooperate with this divine recreation of our life 

*Let's live like a new recreated being in this world to bear witness to Christ*

*Wishing you a Happy and Grace filled feast of the Pentecost* 

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*