A Few Words On "The Word"

April 15, 2007
Second Sunday of Easter, Year C

John 20:19-31

Just Keep Breathing

Do you remember the first time that you held your breath underwater? You probably began by quickly ducking under and then popping up again. Before long you were most likely swimming underwater for longer periods or challenging your friends to see who could hold their breath the longest. The ability to take a deep breath of fresh air and plunge beneath the surface is an exhilarating feeling.

As we lack gills, our natural inclination to breathe oxygen eventually wins out. The excitement of swimming underwater, pretending to be fish, is slightly humbled by the realization that existing without oxygen for even a little while isn't the easiest thing to do. We begin to get tired no matter how many times we come up for air. Our dives to the deepest parts of the pool usually end in a frantic struggle for the surface where we gaspingly gulp in precious air.

Breathing is vital if we're going to live a full life. Playing underwater is fresh and exhilarating but without air we truly can't flourish and live life to the full.

In today's gospel reading we're introduced to a different type of air - the Holy Spirit. While the apostles are nervously hiding behind locked doors, Jesus appears in their midst. Seeing their astonished faces, and knowing the fear they feel, Jesus simply says, "Peace be with you." He then exhorts them to carry on the mission he was given by God. To enable them to do this, Jesus breaths on them, symbolically giving them the Holy Spirit as a guide.

We see the results of Jesus' gift of grace in the signs and wonders the apostles are able to perform. Over time, they begin to realize that life without the Holy Spirit is just as futile as life without oxygen.

By virtue of our baptism and confirmation, we too have been gifted with the same Holy Spirit that empowered the apostles. When we accept the reality that we are God's own and then begin to love and serve others, we soon realize that, just like the apostles, we cannot live without the Holy Spirit. The grace of the Holy Spirit transforms and strengthens us, making it possible to live lives of passion and compassion centered on a love for God and those around us. The key is to simply keep breathing, realizing that God is nearer than our next breath, enabling us to truly live.

Reflection Question

In what ways have you experienced the Holy Spirit leading and empowering you to do things that you thought you couldn't do?

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