“Jesus breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’…” John 20:22

Today’s Word reveals something of the intimacy of Jesus’ Spirit within us. How deep the love must be and how profound the mystery, that Jesus would breathe his own Spirit into us. Could anyone, or anything be closer to us than the breath of life? How do we understand such a mystery; Jesus’ Spirit in every breath we take? Is this what it is to be human; to be sustained in life by the Spirit of God? And how do we know that the Spirit is within us? We know by the sighs and groans, by the longing and yearning and by the utterance of love that the Spirit expresses in us. That we are able to love, to do good, to be creative and life-giving, is entirely the gift of Jesus’ Spirit within us.

Allow yourself to relax, sitting or lying very still. Close your eyes. Place your hands gently on your ribs. Become aware of your breathing…As you breathe in deeply and slowly, say the name of Jesus in the silence of your heart…hold your breath briefly…and as you slowly exhale your breath, feel the peace and fullness of His Spirit with you. Repeat this rhythm and let it draw you into a meditative and intimate moment of grace.

The Spirit of Jesus is within me.