Today is also the birthday of the Church. The Church is basically that community and complex of communities spread all over the world which is continuing the visible presence of God and his work by living openly in the Spirit of Jesus and offering its experience of knowing Christ to the world. Jesus breathes on his disciples, as God breathed life into the first human being. The breathing symbolizes the Spirit of God and of Jesus. With the giving of the Spirit comes also the authority to speak and act in the name of Jesus. Forgiving sin, reconciling people with God is the very core of the work of Christ and the Christian mission. The disciples are now the Body of Christ, the ongoing visible presence of Christ in the world. The second reading speaks of the effect of the Spirit on the Christian community. The Church and each community within it reflects unity and diversity. We are not called to uniformity. Unity presumes diversity and a variety of gifts and talents and responsibilities. We are called to be deeply united in our faith in Christ and in our love for each other. At the same time, each one of us has unique gifts. It is through these gifts that each one serves and builds up the community. Today let us ask God to send his Spirit into our hearts. Filled with that Spirit, may we each individually make our contribution to the community to which we belong.