Message from Fr. Luis R. Largaespada V.F.

St. Hugh Catholic Parish

Whose Sins You Forgive Are Forgiven Them (Jn 20:23).

It is night, that first day of the week. Mary Magdalene has already announced that “I have seen the Lord” (Jn 20:18).

Peter and John have already been to the tomb and found it empty (20:6-8).

And yet, here they all are, full of fear, doors locked. And the unimaginable happens: “Jesus came and stood in their midst” (20:19).

He comes not to scold, not to chide them for their lack of belief. Instead He wishes them peace (cf 20:21), and to give them a great commission: “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them” (20:22-23).

We focus so much on the Holy Spirit’s descent at Pentecost that we forget that on the evening of that first day of the week the Lord Jesus breathes on the Apostles giving them the Spirit, the breath of God. This gift of the Spirit has a special purpose: forgiveness, mercy. As the Father has sent Him, now Jesus sends the Apostles, empowered by the Spirit, to bring mercy and forgiveness to all.

On this Divine Mercy Sunday, let us thank the Lord for this outpouring of mercy, for the gift of forgiveness that we receive through the ministry of the priest, for staying with us in the Eucharist, that fountain of mercy. Let us pray that He may give us many holy priests to carry on His work of mercy and forgiveness. Jesus, I trust in you.

Fr. Luis R. Largaespada V.F.