Jesus sends the Holy Spirit and gives power to the disciples to forgive sins!

Gospel Reflection for Pentecost Sunday

In today’s gospel, Jesus appears to His disciples after He has risen from the dead. He tells them to be at peace. Jesus also gives them the power to forgive sins. The disciples were the first priests. Today, we can tell our sins to a priest and receive forgiveness in the Sacrament of Confession.

We hear in the prayer of absolution during confession that “Jesus sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins.” Because Jesus sent His Holy Spirit, the disciples, and now all priests, are able to forgive sins in the name of Jesus – Jesus forgives our sins through the priest.

Jesus loves us more than we can imagine, and He wants us to be free from sin so that we would be at peace with Him and free to love Him with our whole heart.