Locked doors; Spirit breathed; forgive and retain sins

“…gathered for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst and says to them: Peace to you.” Someone might reasonably raise this puzzle: if the Word was in a body even after the resurrection, as also before the precious cross, how did he appear unexpectedly in the midst of the disciples when the doors were locked? To this we say: by divine power. One must remember Paul saying that “from now on we know no one according to the flesh; even if we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him so no longer.” For after the rising from the dead, since the economy on which the taking of flesh was done as needed is already finished, he uses authority and power befitting God, wanting to be recognized rather through these than through the measures of the emptying, as at the fitting time.

“And having said this he breathed on them and says to them: Receive the Holy Spirit; if you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain those of any, they are retained.” The whole deed is God-befitting and worthy of every word. First, breathing on the apostles and giving the Spirit is not a human act. Then it is great and above creation to grant such authority that they may retain the sins of those they choose, and also forgive those they may wish. And why does he give the Spirit also through a fleshly breath? Because his flesh has not become alien to the Word, but is his own in a proper sense. The breathing through flesh is human; but it is the work of divine power to make those who are counted worthy sharers of the Spirit.