23/05/2026
Gospel Reflection | Pentecost Sunday
Jn. 20: 19-23
In today’s Gospel, we hear about Jesus appearing to His disciples after His Resurrection and giving them peace, the Holy Spirit, and the mission to forgive sins. In this passage, the disciples were afraid, but Jesus stood before them and said, “Peace be with you.” After that, Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
As a seminarian, this Gospel reminds me not to be afraid. Just as the disciples were afraid and hiding, Jesus came to them and said, “Peace be with you.” This shows that Jesus strengthens those whom He calls to the priesthood. The Gospel also teaches that Jesus is preparing us to become instruments who will share His Word and be guided by the Holy Spirit. It reminds us that our vocation is a mission entrusted to us by Jesus.
In reflecting on this Gospel, we are reminded that we must fully trust Jesus Christ, because He knows what is best for us as human beings. We are called to be strong and not to be afraid, especially when we experience hardships and shortcomings in life. Jesus gave the Holy Spirit to guide us in the journey we take every day.
At the same time, the Gospel also emphasizes peace and forgiveness. We are called to forgive others because we are all human and capable of making mistakes. It is never too late to forgive. In order to experience true peace, we must learn to reconcile with one another, trust in God, and live without fear.