The Mission: To Forgive

Gospel: John 20: 19-23

The mission entrusted to us today by Jesus is to forgive sins.  In giving the Spirit to us all we are instructed to go out and forgive the sins of others, to reconcile people to God and one another.  Someone may object at this point and note that Jesus also talks about retaining sins, too.  What can this mean? Let us look to the example of Jesus to see.

In the previous week to this event, Jesus was betrayed, denied, abandoned, beaten, mocked, and crucified.  On the cross Jesus forgives those who mocked and executed him.  After the resurrection Jesus enters the upper room and offers peace to those who abandoned him.  On the seashore, Jesus invites the one who denied him to a relationship of love.  There is not a single sin retained; there is no one Jesus did not forgive.  

It is instructive that we focus more on retaining sins than forgiving them, showing to all the gap that exists between the Lord Jesus and ourselves.  May the mighty wind of the Spirit of creation re-create in us his image and likeness we bear this Pentecost, so that we may go forth to carry out the ministry of reconciliation and mercy that we have received and which we are called to share with others.