Pentecost Sunday Reflection 2019
Author: Rose Marie Giasolli
June 9, 2019
The evening of the 1st day of the week, the disciples were frightened, staying in a locked room. They were afraid that the Jews may come and take them away like they did Jesus. Then Jesus appears and says “Peace be with you”... Not sure this was just a greeting or to help them not be so frightened. Then he shows them his hands and side. In other parts of the bible they mention hands and feet. This again is to prove it is he and for them to feel better about who it really is. Knowing that Thomas wanted to see before he would believe.
Then he goes on and says “as the father has sent me I will send you” Then he breathes on them giving them the Holy Spirit...saying “those sins you forgive are forgiven, those sins you retain are retained.”
Giving them, at this point, the Holy Sacrament of Penance. What a wonderful gift! Once you tell the priest your sins with a contrite heart...they are forgiven as long as you do your penance. Now in Australia they have a law, I think from the 90's, where the priest is required to tell the sins they have heard to the police if they ask for them or even if they don't if it's a grave sin. Now California is ready to pass the same kind of law. This would cause our priests to go against Canon law. I don't think that will happen, and we will have some priests having to go to court or end up in jail. What a sad situation, this will cause many people who may go to confession not to and then not be able to receive the Holy Eucharist. This is a gift from the Lord and so helpful to be able to turn a life around. It is a sin to take that away from us.