The First and Last Holy Breath. A Sermon for Pentecost. Sunday 28th May 2023.
▶ John 20.19–23 19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’ Heavenly Father, I pray O Lord that these words may be to your praise and glory. Amen. I promise that I will talk about Pentecost in a moment, but also have to let you know that I will be talking about death and dying, in a personal way so if you’re not in the right place for that, this is some advance notice. However, saying that, t