Praised be Jesus Christ!

I want to thank the Middle School students who answered the question last Sunday. Some of the students suggested that the Gospel reading was the institution of Holy Orders, but we normally see that sacrament as instituted at the Last Supper when Jesus told the apostles, "Do this in remembrance of me."

The students were correct in associating Holy Orders with the Gospel passage since in the passage Christ was giving the apostles the power to forgive sins, one of the major duties and offices of the priest.

That, of course, leads to the more accurate answer: the Gospel was the account of the institution of the sacrament of Reconciliation (also known as Penance and Confession). In the reading, Jesus gives his own authority to the apostles. In Jesus' Name, the apostles can forgive the sins of humanity.

I want to thank Clare, David, Adam, Jenny, Evan, Megan, and Carter for their answers.

Here's a new question: Today's Gospel reading in taken from John, Chapter 10. In that chapter, what does Jesus call himself? What does that mean? Good luck.