Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Seminary God Pause - Moved by the Promise for Friday, 6 June 2014 - Read John 20:19-23

Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Seminary God Pause - Moved by the Promise for Friday, 6 June 2014 - Read John 20:19 When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the middle, and said to them, “Peace be to you.”
20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit! 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them. If you retain anyone’s sins, they have been retained.”(World English Bible)
I cringe when a preacher categorizes and rejects entire groups of people as sinful and unclean. How can it be so easy to condemn and so hard to forgive? Where is love and grace in the community of Christ? 
In a room filled with sorrow and fear, Peace appeared and commissioned those first disciples, "As the Father has sent me, so I send you." It was no small honor, like deputizing a posse to get the bad guys. It was authenticated by the very breath of creation and salvation, the ruach of God. "Jesus breathed on the disciples and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit.'" What to do with this gift? "FORGIVE," he said. By the Holy Spirit, Jesus shared the power to forgive and to hold on to sins. If the disciples were afraid before, this commission should have terrified them! Only God can forgive sin, but these mere mortals were given a godly gift that is not to be taken too lightly or with a heavy hand, but with gratitude and respect.
Peace, Presence, Mission, Ordination, and Forgiveness ... precious gifts from you alone, O Lord! Make us worthy to be your servants and use your gifts in mission in your world. Amen.
Carol A Solovitz
Pastor, Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lakeland, Fla. 
John 20:19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."
20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you."
22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."(New Revised Standard Version)
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