Forgiveness: The Language of the Spirit
Pentecost Sunday – May 24, 2026
The two key teachings of Jesus in the Gospel touch on our relationships with others and how we can build peace. We can say, forgiveness is a concrete expression of peace, and it is no coincidence that Jesus combines the gift of peace with the authority to forgive.
In the First Reading, language is demonstrated as building and strengthening relationships: speaking in the language of the other is a pathway to peace because without a common language there is always the risk of misunderstanding and divisions being created. However, there are close to 7,000 languages spoken in the world today. Mistakes do happen.
For example, a gentleman went to the barber shop and the lady cutting my hair could only speak Korean. I asked for a flat-top, she said something in Korean that I didn’t understand so I just said yes, and the next thing I know she had shaved my head bald.
However, even in a common language that both parties speak, there can still be mistrust. Hence the need for concrete expressions of peace, through forgiveness which Jesus entrusted to the Church through the ministry of reconciliation: “For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained.’”
Like me you might be confused why Jesus would allow some sins to be retained. Which sins would they be? Or is it up to the personal choice of the Apostle? The Bishop? Or you/me?
After a bit of research, it’s clear that RETAIN is not the same as NEVER in the bible: retain can mean: hold onto, not to release or keep in place. It’s like a Contract with a retention clause that has to be fulfilled before the Contract is completed or caveat on a Land Title.
This tells us that forgiveness is a relational action that requires something from the other to be forgiven. For example, if someone is ready to acknowledge their fault, the Church can give them forgiveness. But if someone refuses to accept they made a mistake, it cannot.
Otherwise, the Truth will be watered down and lost; and the Community is at risk of falling into chaos: anything goes, and people do not need forgiveness. Another way to understand it is to think of a Doctor saying: “I can treat you, but only if you let me open the wound.”
So, to “retain” is not to punish, but to challenge the other person to face the reality of what they have done. Alternatively, some people are trapped in shame and need help to come into the light. There is a hint of this in the Gospel where the Apostles are huddled in the room “in fear”.
They are not just afraid of Jesus as a new person, they are also remembering with shame that they ran away from Jesus on Holy Thursday night. Difficult as it is, by admitting our faults, we can begin again. As they say: the truth will set us free.
Today’s Feast of the Holy Spirit is the gift from God that we need to discern our wrong doing, and/or to gain the courage to open our wounds to Jesus for healing.
The Holy Spirit is that presence of God that creates peace between us, which is only possible when we consider how others are feeling and what they might need at any particular time.
Don’t let shame or fear rule our lives: may we be filled with courage to move forward with hope and trust in our loving God, so that we may experience the Resurrection in a truly personal encounter with God’s forgiveness, healing and peace.
By Gerard Conlan, OMI