Second Sunday of Easter (year C)- John 20

In today's Gospel from St. John 20:19ff, we see that one of the first things that the risen Lord did was to give His disciples authority to forgive sins. Although theologians have discussed and debated exact applications over the years, the basic applications seem fairly straightforward. In a sense, the followers of Christ participate in remitting sins whenever the Gospel of repentance and faith in Christ is proclaimed in word and deed. Anyone who hears the Scriptural message, who acknowledges his/her sin before God, and who trusts in God's grace in Christ can be forgiven.   In historic Lutheran understandings, this confession of sins and faith can be individual, private between any individuals, or public and corporate in the church. In our daily prayers, we confess our sins and ask God's forgiveness. We ask family and friends to forgive us and pray for us. In the life of the Church, liturgies have provided for public or communal confession of sin and declarations of forgiveness by the ordained clergy at the Communion and other services. Furthermore, many Christians have also encouraged troubled consciences to employ private confession/pardon with a pastor.
These  Lutheran options seem very pastoral and comforting. They combine the best of what are commonly called "evangelical" and "catholic" approaches. They also fit in with today's Gospel on the power and mission of the risen Lord. As He extends His peace to the disciples who had abandoned Him, He forgives them. He commissions them to do the same in the world. So whatever our particular vocations, all believers need to be ministers of our Lord's grace, peace, and forgiveness.