In this Sunday’s Gospel (John 20:19-23), we hear that the disciples gathered behind locked doors, afraid and unsure of what to do next. They had followed Jesus, watched Him be crucified, and were left wondering what was safe anymore. So, they hid.
We might not be locked in a room, but we still know what it feels like to hide, hold back, and protect ourselves from being too vulnerable or exposed. Some of this comes from experience—times we took a risk, shared something honest, or let our guard down, and it didn’t go the way we’d hoped. Maybe we were met with silence, or worse…rejection. And somewhere deep down, the decision was made: “I’m not doing that again.”
That instinct is understandable, but here’s the powerful thing: Jesus walks through locked doors. He doesn’t wait until we’re brave or ready. He meets us right in the middle of fear, hiding, and hesitation, and He offers peace. That’s just what He did when He entered the locked room and said to the disciples, “Peace be with you,” giving them the Holy Spirit with His breath.
That’s not just something that happened once a long time ago; it can happen anywhere, at any time, to any of us. The Spirit still shows up…still speaks…still nudges us out of hiding.
For anyone who’s been holding back, maybe Pentecost is the invitation to open that door—to be real again, say something, or show up, even when it feels a little risky.
The Holy Spirit can do a lot, but it’s harder when the doors are locked from the inside. Allowing the Spirit to move often starts with letting our guards down a bit. Maybe the goal isn’t to have it all figured out, but instead just to stop letting fear make the decisions. Locked doors might feel safe, but they also keep us from becoming who God is calling us to be.
