He Breathed the Holy Spirit Upon Them

Prayer-Soldier

He Breathed the Holy Spirit Upon Them

Scripture:

And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people. And they were all with one accord in the porch of Solomon. But of the rest no man dare join himself unto them: but the people magnified them. And the multitude of men and women who believed in the Lord was more increased: Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that, when Peter came, his shadow at the least might overshadow any of them and they might be delivered from their infirmities. And there came also together to Jerusalem a multitude out of the neighboring cities, bringing sick persons and such as were troubled with unclean spirits: who were all healed. (Acts 5:12-16)

I, John, your brother and your partner in tribulation and in the kingdom and patience in Christ Jesus, was in the island which is called Patmos, for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus. I was in the spirit on the day of the Lord and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, saying: What you see, write in a book and send to the seven churches which are in Asia:

And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks: And in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, one like to the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the feet, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

And when I had seen him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying: Fear not. I am the First and the Last, and alive, and was dead. And behold I am living for ever and ever and have the keys of death and of hell. Write therefore the things which you have seen: and which are: and which must be done hereafter. (Revelations 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19)

Now when it was late the same day, the first of the week, and the doors were shut, where the disciples were gathered together, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst and said to them: Peace be to you. And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord. He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you. When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them: and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him: We have seen the Lord. But he said to them: Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the place of the nails and put my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days, again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus comes, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst and said: Peace be to you. Then he said to Thomas: Put in your finger hither and see my hands. And bring hither the hand and put it into my side. And be not faithless, but believing. Thomas answered and said to him: My Lord and my God. Jesus said to him: Because you have seen me, Thomas, you have believed: blessed are they that have not seen and have believed.

Many other signs also did Jesus in the sight of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing, you may have life in his name. (John 20:19-31)

Reflection:

And so He came to the world and did great works so that those who followed Him could do great works. He came to teach the commandments of sacrificial love and the path to eternal blessings. He commissioned the few to go forth to the nations and spread the blessings of His Word; and as the Word spreads from heart to heart, the blessings of the Holy Spirit are spread to the multitudes.

It is the children of His creation who choose whether to magnify His Word or the ways of the world. It is the children of His creation who choose to magnify the deeds of selflessness or selfishness. From the One to the few to the many, great blessings may be spread. Blessed are those who follow Him, for while blessings will come to them in this world, greater blessings await in the eternal kingdom.

To the heart which will listen, He will tell great things. He will share the blessings of His love and the love which He asks all the children of His creation to share. The heart which prays to Him will receive His Holy Spirit. The heart which follows Him will come to know His blessings.

It was written that what is of this world shall pass away. What, then, does one gain from pursuit of that which shall return to dust? It is better, then, to pursue what is eternal; that which is revealed by the Word, that which may only be found through Him.

Through those who witnessed, the events of His presence were passed from ear to ear. Through those who heard and received the Holy Spirit in their hearts, what was seen and what was heard, was written so that those who did not witness might come to know. Some, through their weakness to the world, seek to twist the Word for their own designs; but so that all might understand the truth, He sent to us the Holy Spirit so that all who read and all who hear might discern the truth. He gave us the test of sacrificial love so that the selfishness of evil might be revealed.

So that the few would know what He had done for the generations; that He suffered and died in sacrifice for our sins, that He conquered death to save all who believe in Him; He returned to them. He returned to wish them peace. He returned to commission them to go forth to world. He returned to place in their hands the keys of forgiveness. He returned to breath upon them the Holy Spirit so that they may know and spread the glorious truth of His Word.

Blessed are the generations for what was to come from that moment. What He breathed into the few, He breathed into the generations. A few were blessed to see, but the multitude throughout the generations are blessed through what they did not see, but what is exposed to their heart.

It is the way of the children of His creation to doubt despite the many ways He has shown the way. Blinded by the world, we walk our different ways. To some He has come so that the multitudes might see. To some He has come so that the multitudes might be blessed. In prayer, let us place our hands in His hands. In prayer, let us touch His side. If we ask in prayer, He will remove our doubt. If we ask in prayer, He will help us remove the doubt of others. If we ask in prayer, He will grant us what we need to turn the tide against evil so that the generations shall not perish, but shall know His mercy, forgiveness, peace and everlasting love.

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier