Monday, August 20, 2012
298. When did he institute this sacrament?
(Comp 298) The risen Lord instituted
this sacrament on the evening of Easter when he showed himself to his apostles
and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any,
they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” (John
20:22-23).
“In
brief”
(CCC 1485)
"On the evening of that day, the first day of the week," Jesus showed
himself to his apostles. "He breathed on them, and said to them: 'Receive
the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you
retain the sins of any, they are retained"' (Jn 20:19, 22-23).
To deepen and
explain
(CCC 1441)
Only God forgives sins (Cf. Mk 2:7). Since he is the Son of God, Jesus says of
himself, "The Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" and
exercises this divine power: "Your sins are forgiven" (Mk 2:5, 10; Lk
7:48). Further, by virtue of his divine authority he gives this power to men to
exercise in his name (Cf. Jn 20:21-23).
On
reflection
(CCC 589)
Jesus gave scandal above all when he identified his merciful conduct toward
sinners with God's own attitude toward them (Cf. Mt 9:13; Hos 6:6). He went so
far as to hint that by sharing the table of sinners he was admitting them to
the messianic banquet (Cf. Lk 15:1-2, 22-32). But it was most especially by
forgiving sins that Jesus placed the religious authorities of Israel on the
horns of a dilemma. Were they not entitled to demand in consternation,
"Who can forgive sins but God alone?" (Mk 2:7). By forgiving sins
Jesus either is blaspheming as a man who made himself God's equal, or is speaking
the truth and his person really does make present and reveal God's name (Cf. Jn
5:18; 10:33; 17:6, 26).
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