The disciples found themselves in the most human of situations: absolutely terrified and completely confused. Behind locked doors, they wrestled with grief over losing their Teacher and fear of sharing His fate. The authorities were still hunting, the tomb was mysteriously empty, and wild stories of resurrection were swirling like rumors in a small town. Then suddenly, without even a courtesy knock, Jesus appears right in their midst. No dramatic entrance music, no special effects, just "Peace be with you" as if dropping by for Sunday dinner. It's the ultimate reminder that our Savior specializes in showing up exactly when we need Him most, even when we're convinced we've locked Him out with our doubts and fears.
But here's where it gets beautifully outrageous: Jesus doesn't just offer comfort, He breathes on them. Not a gentle pastoral blessing, but the very breath of God, the same divine wind that hovered over creation and will soon roar through Jerusalem at Pentecost. This isn't CPR; this is cosmic resuscitation. When Jesus Christ breathes the Holy Spirit into these terrified followers, He's essentially saying, "I'm making you My ambassadors."
The authority to forgive sins that Jesus grants them isn't a power trip; it's a love assignment. Through the sacrament of Reconciliation and the entire mission of the Church, we become participants in God's deepest love: mercy. Every time we extend forgiveness, seek forgiveness, or help others find their way back to the Father's embrace, we're literally continuing Jesus' work on earth. We're not just reading about salvation history, we're living it, breathing it, sharing it with everyone who needs to hear that God's love is bigger than their biggest mistakes.
So here we are, spiritual descendants of those same bewildered disciples, often hiding behind our own locked doors of insecurity, busy schedules, or fear of what others might think. But Jesus Christ keeps showing up with that same gentle "Peace be with you," breathing His Spirit into our ordinary lives and sending us out as His extraordinary messengers. We don't need to be perfect saints to share the Good News, just willing hearts ready to let His love overflow through us. After all, the same Jesus who turned frightened fishermen into world-changing apostles is still in the business of making the impossible beautifully possible through each of us.
©2025 James Dacey Jr.
