You Are Sent
Peace be with you... As the Father has sent me, I am sending you... Receive the Holy Spirit..."
Dear Confirmation candidates, dear parents and godparents, dear sisters and brothers in Christ Jesus,
Today is a day for rejoicing! It is a day filled with the breath of the Holy Spirit, with peace, and it is a day with a mission. We are gathered here to celebrate your Confirmation, but even more importantly, we are here because God is doing something truly wonderful and very powerful in your lives. I would like to begin by taking a closer look at today’s Gospel from St. John: It is Easter evening. The disciples are locked away behind closed doors but also behind closed hearts. They are afraid, uncertain, and lost.
And then all of a sudden: Jesus comes and stands among them and he says, "Peace be with you." He says this not once, but twice. “Peace be with you.”
But why peace? Because peace is what we long for when we are afraid, confused, or overwhelmed. The risen Christ doesn't scold them for running away or for hiding. He comes right into their fear and breathes peace. This peace is not just a feeling — it is the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit who calms us, strengthens us, and reminds us: You are never alone.
And then Jesus Christ does something unexpected.
He sends them: “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
Dear Confirmation candidates, dear followers in Christ Jesus, that is also what happens to you – to us.
Through Confirmation, the Church says: “You are not just receivers of faith — you are now witnesses.” And that means this: Your faith is not something to keep locked inside the church. It is not a private moment to hide behind the door. The Holy Spirit sends you out — into your school, your friendships, your families! The Holy Spirit sends you into the world. And yes, being a witness is not always easy. It takes courage.
But remember how Jesus helps his disciples: He breathes on them. That breath is the Holy Spirit — the same Spirit you receive today. Not just a symbol, but a power. The very breath of God, breathing courage and hope into your soul.
So what does that mean for your life?
First of all: Live in peace!
Not just in a sense of calmness, but that deep peace that comes from knowing:I am loved by God. I am not alone. I am part of His Body, the Body of Christ, which refers to the second reading. And when the world is noisy and anxious, filled with anger and stress, be someone who carries the peace of Christ Jesus.
Then: Be a witness!
You don’t have to be perfect. Try to be honest with yourself and your own human being. Be someone who shows kindness - especially when others do not. Be someone who stands for what is right - even when it is not popular. Be someone who forgives - even when it’s hard. That is how the Spirit works and speaks through you – and always in different ways and different languages, just as we heard it in the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
And finally: Let joy grow in you!
Sometimes people think that being a Christian is just about rules – boring – old fashion. But the Holy Spirit brings joy — a joy that no one can take away. A joy that bubbles up in laughter, in service, in friendship, in knowing: I am part of something bigger, something greater. I am part of God's mission in the world.
Dear Confirmation Candidates, dear friends: You are not alone. The Holy Spirit is with you. You are not too young or too old. God believes in you. You are not without purpose. You are sent.God - we count on you – Heavenly Father – we rely on you, Christ Jesus – we call upon you, Holy Spirit.Dear Friends, let us take this moment to open our hearts. Together, let us invoke the power of the Holy Spirit.
Just repeat after me:
Come, Holy Spirit, come.
Fill my heart with your fire.
Breathe your peace into me.
Give me courage to live my faith.
Make me a witness of your love.
Use my life to bring light to the world.
Today, I say yes.
Yes to your Spirit.
Yes to your mission.
Yes to a life of joy, faith, and love.
Amen.
Praise be to Jesus Christ. Amen.