The Second Sunday of Easter
Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Second Sunday of Easter BCP 224)
Jesus greets his disciples after the resurrection with peace and the Holy Spirit. He comes to stand among them, which would have felt very familiar to the disciples, yet after the Passion, death, and Resurrection, would have been very different! This time instead of teaching or parables, Jesus gives them the Holy Spirit. The text says, Jesus breathed on them the Holy Spirit.
Throughout the scriptures, there is a correlation between breath and the Spirit of God. God speaks out the Word, God breathes life into the first humans, God breathes new life into the dry bones in the valley with Ezekiel. God breathes and the Spirit goes forth. In the gospel passage for this coming Sunday from John, Jesus breathes out the Holy Spirit as well. Fully human and fully divine, Jesus offers them God's gift of new life.
The thing about breathing is there is a lack of control around it. You can see this anytime someone goes to blow out some candles, whether in church or on top of a birthday cake. We breathe out, and as much as we try to push our breath in one direction or another, once it is out of our mouths, it disperses, it goes to fill the room. All the people in the room with Jesus, the disciples, the hangers on, the women, the servants... all of them received the Holy Spirit when Jesus breathed out. In fact, as soon as the doors were opened, out that breath of Spirit went... the Holy Spirit loose in the world to bless and work in all people. Breathe in, receive the Holy Spirit.
Jesus greets his disciples after the resurrection with peace and the Holy Spirit. He comes to stand among them, which would have felt very familiar to the disciples, yet after the Passion, death, and Resurrection, would have been very different! This time instead of teaching or parables, Jesus gives them the Holy Spirit. The text says, Jesus breathed on them the Holy Spirit.
Throughout the scriptures, there is a correlation between breath and the Spirit of God. God speaks out the Word, God breathes life into the first humans, God breathes new life into the dry bones in the valley with Ezekiel. God breathes and the Spirit goes forth. In the gospel passage for this coming Sunday from John, Jesus breathes out the Holy Spirit as well. Fully human and fully divine, Jesus offers them God's gift of new life.
The thing about breathing is there is a lack of control around it. You can see this anytime someone goes to blow out some candles, whether in church or on top of a birthday cake. We breathe out, and as much as we try to push our breath in one direction or another, once it is out of our mouths, it disperses, it goes to fill the room. All the people in the room with Jesus, the disciples, the hangers on, the women, the servants... all of them received the Holy Spirit when Jesus breathed out. In fact, as soon as the doors were opened, out that breath of Spirit went... the Holy Spirit loose in the world to bless and work in all people. Breathe in, receive the Holy Spirit.
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