***
Gospel: John 20: 19-23
On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
***
***
One day, a boy asked his father, “Dad, where is God? I’ve looked everywhere – under my bed, in my closet, in my desk at school. I can’t find him.”
So, the father told his son a tale. “My boy,” he said, “one day the devil was speaking with his helpers. He asked them, ‘Where can we hide God?’”
One of his helpers replied, “Let’s hide God on the highest mountain!”
Another replied, “Let’s hide God at the bottom of the sea!”
A third suggested, “No. Let’s hide God within each person. They’ll never look for him there.”
***
Herein lies both the great challenge and responsibility of Christianity, to bear Christ – in a sense to be Christ – in the world. As last week’s Feast of the Ascension reminded us, “this Jesus whom you are looking for has been taken up into heaven” (Acts 1:1).
If we want to find Jesus now, then we must look within ourselves and within one another. As Saint Paul writes, “You are the body of Christ, and individually members of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27).
***
In today’s Gospel, the sun is setting as the disciples are hiding somewhere in Jerusalem behind locked doors.
The evening darkness mirrors the state of their hearts; the light of Christ is dimming within. They are anxious and afraid, feelings reinforced by their doors being locked.
Suddenly, Jesus appears to them and says, “Peace be with you.”
Frightened, they gaze upon his body and see this is undoubtedly the same man who was nailed to a cross.
Then he breathes on them, and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” This divine exhale evokes the Book of Genesis, when God breathed life into Adam’s nostrils, making him a living being.
Much like Adam, the disciples have become a new creation. But they have received more than physical life; they have received the Holy Spirit, who drives out their fear and grief, replacing it with enthusiasm, empowering them to continue Christ’s ministry on earth.
This word, enthusiasm, comes from the Greek, en theos, meaning, “God within.” God is now actively dwelling within their hearts… And what a difference it makes.
***
In the bright light of day, Peter bursts out of that locked inner room and preaches Christ Crucified. In fact, he seeks out the same crowds who called for Christ’s death and, in his first public sermon, says to them:
“This man, Jesus, you killed, using lawless men to crucify him. But God raised him up!” (Acts 2:23-24).
This abrupt change in Peter’s behavior from cowardice to unstoppable courage is incomprehensible unless Peter has seen the Risen Lord and has received the gift of the Holy Spirit.
His enthusiasm never “peters” out. In fact, none of the disciples tire or forsake their ministry. Rather, they exhibit the same intensity and conviction as Peter – some for several decades – until they are martyred for their faith.
They preach in public. They heal the sick. They convert and baptize souls. The Apostle James does so in Jerusalem, leading the local church forward, while others like Thomas go out as far as India, spreading the Good News.
Along the way, many are repeatedly tortured, imprisoned, and rejected. Still, they never quit. Rather, they inspire others to follow their example, handing on the Holy Spirit to the next generation.
All of these early Christians embody the words of the prophet Jeremiah, “Your WORD is like a fire in my bones; woe to me if I do not preach it!” (Jeremiah 20:9)
***
This begs the question: What are we enthusiastic about?
Often we interpret this word to mean, “passionate” or “devoted to.” Thus, parents could say they’re enthusiastic about their children – and rightly so. Some are enthusiastic about their career, politics, or sports.
Are we also enthusiastic about Jesus? Is our faith like a fire in our bones?
This is what our world so desperately needs today – enthusiastic Christian witnesses; people who are “God-centered” and aren’t afraid to show it.
***
“Let’s hide God within each person,” a cunning helper says to the devil. “They will never look for him there.”
Or will we?
***
***
Image credits: (1) Dominican Friars, English.op.org (2) Train Yourself Ministry (3) Love Is Ministry