John 20:19-23 (NIV)
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Reflection:

The disciples were gathered together behind bolted doors in fear. They were certain that sooner or later the vengeful enemies of Jesus would come and seek them out. But in their peril, Jesus supernaturally comes to them and stands right “among them.” This was no peripheral visit, but an assurance that He would be with them forever. And His first word, “Peace be with you”, was far more than a familiar greeting. This peace was the fruit of the salvation He had just won on the Cross. And in this victory, Jesus commissions the disciples to be sent out to continue the mission that the Father gave to the Son.
Jesus breathes upon them the Holy Spirit. And through this, He now shares His intimacy with the Father with His disciples that they may be a new humanity, recreated and empowered for the mission. They have been given the authority to continue Christ’s work, furthering His ministry of forgiveness to all.

Responding to the Transmission:

Like the disciples, we too have been commissioned to continue the mission that Christ began. As the Father sent His Son, the Son now sends us as His followers. Let’s spend time in prayer thanking God for being part of this wonderful lineage and then asking for the Spirit’s empowering to fully live this out.