Restoration

A principal theme of John’s gospel is that Jesus restores the original justice that God intended for his creation.  John alerts us to this theme in his opening line – “In the beginning was the Word,” reminding us of the very start of everything – “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Gn 1:1)

Throughout the Gospel, Jesus restores faith to the unbelieving, sight to the blind, health to the sick, wholeness to the lame, even, in the case of Lazarus, restores life to the dead.  In today’s reading (Jn 20:19-23), near the end of the gospel, Jesus breathes on the disciples that they may receive the holy Spirit, reminding us again of Genesis and how God created man as he “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being.” (cf Gn 2:7)

On this Pentecost day, we celebrate the coming of the Spirit to those first disciples, and we pray that the Spirit and his gifts help us continue Jesus’ mission of restoration.

Come, Holy Spirit; fill us with piety, that we may be drawn ever closer to the source of all love, the source of all peace, and the source of all joy.

Come Holy Spirit; fill us with wisdom that we might see the world as God sees it – an object of His love that we might also love as He loves us.

Come Holy Spirit; fill us with understanding that we might realize the particular mission you have for each one of us, the role we are to play in your divine plan.

Come Holy Spirit; fill us with knowledge of God’s commandments that we follow them in love and humility.

Come Holy Spirit; fill us with counsel that we may speak only your words and serve always with your love.

Come Holy Spirit; fill us with wonder and awe that we may see in your power and glory our shield and our protection that we might not fear anything of mere earthly origin.

Come Holy Spirit; fill us with fortitude that we might persevere in love despite those who persecute us as they persecuted our Lord and Savior.

Filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we are at peace, the peace of Christ which he wishes on his disciples that first Easter night. 

Filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we are freed from our wants and fears, released from ego and self-centeredness, and sent forth to love and to serve God and all others.

Filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we work to restore the kingdom of God, that it be made more perfect here on earth, as it is in heaven. 

Amen, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.