Jesus breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:22

God, who formed us from the dust of the ground, breathed into our nostrils the breath of life (Genesis 2:7). Jesus now begins a new creation, breathing on his disciples, giving them the breath of life in the Holy Spirit. The word for “spirit” in Greek, pneuma, also means “breath.” As the disciples are now charged with sharing forgiveness, mercy, love and hope for the world, they go out on the strength of their own breath, but in the power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus had said earlier to his disciples, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). The Spirit is with us always to guide us in the truth of Jesus and his promise for us. We have this Breath of new life in us, and through the Spirit, we breath this breath of life for the whole world. The last day of Easter is Pentecost, when the Spirit came upon the disciples, and they began to witness to the whole world “God’s deeds of power” (Acts 2:11). That witness is going

on still in each of us, inspired by the Breath of the wounded Healer.

--Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,