Just Say YES – LoveCloud Daily
27 May 2012, Sunday (Pentecost)
Acts 2: 1-11
Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-31, 34
1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13
Gospel: John 20:19-23
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
We often isolate ourselves from things that we are afraid of, and seek refuge in the familiar – this is something I always do. I am usually afraid of things I have no control of, but I soon realize that my service would require me to step away from my comfort zones. I have always wondered if I could be both unafraid and out in service.
Jesus sends His fearful apostles out on a mission – “As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” But He assures the Disciples of His presence, and equips with what they need for their mission on the other side of the doors: His forgiveness (and forgiveness for other people) and the Holy Spirit. He tells them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
Like the disciples, we shut all our doors in fear of other people, realities, and our mission. We are fearful of things outside our doors, which more often than not, is life itself. Similar to their relief when Jesus came, all we ever need to face these fears is the Lord and His blessing of the Holy Spirit and forgiveness. I realize that, yes, with the help of my Lord, I can be out in service to others and be unafraid.
The challenge is for us to accept Jesus’ mission for us: to be sent out as He was sent by His Father.
Writer: Carlo Bontia | Artist: Sanchi Catura
