This text is taken Joan Mitchell, CSJ of Sunday Gospel May 11, 2005, Pentecost, Vol 17, No. 34
John’s gospel arises out of a Christian community that has lived Jesus’ message for 60-70 years. In John’s Pentecost scene, the coming of the Spirit doesn’t involve dramatic tongues of fire, strong wind, and speaking in many languages. To his disciples who gather, feeling fear and shame on this Easter evening, Jesus brings peace and breathes upon them the Spirit of forgiveness. “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
In characterizing the gifts of the Spirit as peace and forgiveness, John’s community of Christians shares its experience of living Jesus’ message. The risen Jesus empowers his disciples to forgive and forget. A community that continues in Jesus’ name must be a forgiving people. Forgiving others creates bonds. Forgetting hurts and grudges keeps us bound and apart.
The risen Jesus forgives and frees his disciples of their fear to become a forgiving presence in our world. He missions the community to spread the joy and peace they share.
- How has someone’s forgiveness changed you? How has it made you more forgiving?
- How has forgiving someone changed you?
- What peace is within your power to give to someone this week?
45 PERCENT 
I like the message in this passage. I just think that Jesus was more of a player than a free spirited person. Even though he did much forgiveness there is an equivalency in mind. I want to give an up-to-date opinion here; so, I will show a link: The Critical Calling By Richard A. McCormick