He breathed on them

“And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.’” (JN 20: 22-23)

Some commentaries on this passage say that this action recalls Gn 2:7, where God breathed on the first man and gave him life; just as Adam’s life came from God, so now the disciples’ new spiritual life comes from Jesus. Our Lord shared with them one of their most important missions—the sacrament of reconciliation. Sin is turning away from God and choosing our own way; reconciliation is following Him, imitating Him and being like Him. The Holy Spirit is a Spirit of Love, when He is present, everything goes in the right direction; everyone is moved to be closer to God.

“Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.”