Pentecost

"I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now." Jesus said to his disciples.

How many times have we wanted to say something very important to a person we loved, to a friend of ours, but we didn't because we thought he/she cannot bear it.

We don't talk because we think that they are not ready, that they are not prepare to hear it. However, the same might be said about ourselves. There are some words that we are ready to hear only if they come from within; if we hear these words coming from our brothers and sisters, we don't listen and we get upset. So, the Lord said: "I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now."

What were these things? That the earth was not flat? No, Jesus was not talking about science. He was talking about their hearts, their wishes, their sins...

"They were all in one place together," we have heard in the first reading. In fact, Jesus was talking to them as if he was talking to one person.

In today's gospel we have heard: "When he comes, the Spirit of truth will guide you to all truth." Take a deep look at these words. The gospel doesn't say: when he comes, the Spirit will revealed you the truth, or will enlighten you, but "He will guide you... to the truth."

Somehow the Lord is telling us: the truth is not related to what we are now but to where we go. Then, the truth is not something that we simply have or carry with us, but something we humbly learn, step by step, day by day, walking under the guidance of the Spirit.

If you read the other gospel for today you will see that the coming of the Holy Spirit is related to the forgiveness of our sins. However, we cannot claim that our sins are forgiven, and yet, do not allow the Spirit to guide us. We cannot claim that our sins are forgiven and be divided, as a broken family or as a broken church.

The gift of forgiveness is not a private gift, a gift for the individual, but a gift for the family. When one of us sins, our sins hurt other people. This is why the gift of forgiveness is related to our generosity to forgive one another.

This gospel says: "On the evening of the first day of the week, Jesus came and stood in their midst." Well, which is the first day of the week? Sunday!

Jesus said to them: "Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I send you." Look that all these words are related to what we have heard before: "The Spirit of truth will guide you." Now, Jesus says: "As the Father sent me, so I send you." The question is: Where? To do what?

The gospel continues: "Jesus breathed on them saying: ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them." Now, the mystery is disclosed! Jesus sent his disciples to do what? To forgive, to forgive our sins, to forgive our neighbor, to forgive our enemies, to forgive one another, because when we allow our anger, our hatred, our disappointment and frustration..., to guide us, then, we don't follow the Spirit.

The Lord considered the gift of forgiveness as a new creation. The act of forgiving is so important that the Lord breathed on them the Spirit. Do you remember another passage from the Bible that says the same? The Book of Genesis. In Genesis chapter 1, God breathed on the human being to bring him to life. Why did Jesus do the same? Because we cannot be alive without forgiving and being forgiven.