“[Jesus] said, ‘Peace be with you…(and) breathed on them, saying, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” (John 20:21-22)

Jesus shared his living and lasting peace as well as his breath of life, his breath of creation, his breath of God. We Christians became the church on this day; we were given everything we need to be Christ’s body, everything necessary for our holiness and greatest call – to be the children of God.

Jesus’s peace is powerful. It sets the world on its head. Everlasting peace vanquishes all need to earn our way into heaven. Heaven is our gift. But with the gift comes the responsibility to share it as all gifts are given for the common good. Do not our hearts stir when we try not to share this peace? Jesus’s peace negates the hatred and violence of the world and their pull on our souls. As Christians we joyfully share this peace and faithfully bring others into the fold.

Jesus’s breath is powerful. Like a mighty wind, able to move mountains and oceans, able to bring forth order from chaos, able to bear life from nothing. The Holy Spirit is the promise Jesus gave us that he would not leave us alone. The Holy Spirit dwells in our human bodies and brings gifts for each of us. We are enabled to be the people we are called forth to be. We are enabled to do the unthinkable, the unimaginable and the impossible. We have truly become the body, soul and divinity of Christ. We take on Christ and are welcomed into the cosmic dance of creation, into the inner sanctum of the sacred, the Triune God, and strengthen this unity every time we celebrate the Eucharist.

Now that we have received the ability and the ensuing gifts, let us go forth proclaiming the good news, co-creating peace to the ends of the earth. Let us each speak, with tongues set on fire, the words of eternal salvation. Let us together be a sign of God’s divine love.

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