John 20:19-23

19-20Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house. Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, "Peace to you." Then he showed them his hands and side.

20-21The disciples, seeing the Master with their own eyes, were exuberant. Jesus repeated his greeting: "Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you."

22-23Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. "Receive the Holy Spirit," he said. "If you forgive someone's sins, they're gone for good. If you don't forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?"

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Jesus enters our locked doors. We think we can close ourselves off from the world, safe and secure on our own. Then Jesus barges in, and before we can think to protest, He gives us peace and sends us out on a mission of forgiveness and love. What are we going to do with those grudges we are holding on to? Those wounds we keep, reminding ourselves of how another has hurt us, aren't helping us move forward in life. What are we planning on doing with those? To all of our situations, Jesus wanders in, filled with power and might, and rather than yelling at us and telling us how we've got it all wrong, he gives us peace first, then hands out our mission. The God we love speaks grace and peace first. May we do the same.

Blessings