Pentecost Sunday

Jan 14 2025

Three Gifts of Pentecost

The disciples were cowering behind locked doors. Fear has a way of imprisoning, away from the outer world, but also from our inner world, taking away our freedom to hope, imagine, and dream. We can become comfortable working in cramped spaces, isolated and unattached, removed from life and contact with others.

But then along comes the risen Lord, arms outstretched, heart wide open, bearing gifts to transform our lives. The first gift of the risen Lord is peace (shalom), which translates as all good things, physically, mentally, and spiritually—all that is needed to be alive inside. This peace is a gift that the world cannot give.

The second gift is a mission: we are sent, as Jesus was sent, by the Father. Where? To the world. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:16–17). Now the Son sends the disciples—us!—to bring life.

The third gift is the Holy Spirit, given for the forgiveness of sins. The Holy Spirit is the gift of the Father and the Son, given to us at baptism, again at confirmation, and whose gifts are given to the church and its members for the good of all, within and outside the church. Primary among these gifts is the gift of forgiveness.

Consider/Discuss

Have I received the gift of the Holy Spirit who brings the forgiveness of my own sins?
Have I made use of this gift of the Holy Spirit who calls me to bring forgiveness to others?

Responding to the Word

During this week, pray the Sequence used at Mass for Pentecost before the Gospel, “Come, Holy Spirit, come!” Notice especially these words: “Heal our wounds, our strength renew/On our dryness pour your dew/Wash the stains of guilt away/Bend the stubborn heart and will/Melt the frozen, warm the chill.”

Jan 14 2025

Scripture Study for

The Jewish feast of Pentecost was one of the three major pilgrimage festivals of Israel. This feast explains why there was a crowd gathered in Jerusalem. This is the crowd that heard a loud noise and was confused, astonished, and amazed. They knew that those speaking were Galileans, yet the hearers could understand the message in their own dialect. The exact nature of this marvel is less significant than its meaning. It was clearly a manifestation of the universal presence and power of the Spirit. The outpouring of the Spirit and the preaching of the gospel to all nations are seen by some as initiating the reunion of the human race and the gathering of all into the reign of God.

The acclamation “Jesus is Lord!” is rich in both Jewish and early Christian meaning. “Lord” was the official title of the Roman emperor. To proclaim Jesus as Lord was to set up a rivalry between the followers of Jesus and the ruling political authority. The title “Lord” is also used in the Greek-language version of the Old Testament as a substitute for God’s personal name. To use this title for Jesus is also to ascribe to him the attributes of God. Paul next launches into a discourse on the varieties of functions within the Christian community. The diversity of gifts is compared to the complexity of the human body. This metaphor exemplifies unity in diversity and interdependence.

John’s account of the risen Lord treats the Resurrection and the bestowal of the Spirit as occurring on the same day. The locked doors, meant to secure the disciples from those who put Jesus to death, also underscore the mysterious character of his risen body. The image of breathing life into another is reminiscent of the creation of Adam (Genesis 2:7) and restoration of Israel after the Exile (Ezekiel 37:9). The disciples are commissioned to go forth, to declare salvation and judgment. With the bestowal of the Spirit, the disciples are authorized to continue the mission of Jesus.

Jan 10 2025

The Erupting Spirit

She whispered under her breath, “Lord, have mercy.” The others in the room echoed, “Lord, have mercy.” It was not a church but a hospital room. Gospel music was playing softly on the player on the windowsill. She smiled, “Lord, have mercy God almighty, I am coming home!” Words of faith—the Spirit of God overflowed within her and her joy erupted into words.

The feast of Pentecost is the day to celebrate the gift of speech! Some of us speak for a living. Preachers preach often in the Easter season. Teachers talk the whole school year through. Sometimes we may wonder, where does the power come from to speak effectively? And do words make any difference in this world that is already so full of words?

The experience of the Spirit in the second chapter of Acts came to seemingly dried-up and disheartened disciples. The Spirit rushed upon them like a mighty wind! Out of their emptiness, Acts tells us, three thousand people were converted and the church was born. At that moment, Christian preaching was also born. What if Peter had not spoken? What if he had remained silent? The Spirit so filled him that he had to speak. He had to speak. His joy bubbled up into words, telling the glorious story of Jesus’ resurrection. Human speech matters more than we can ever imagine.

Our words matter, too. On this holy day of empowering, do we hunger for those we love to meet the living God? If so, what words do we speak? We have to discern our words carefully. But joy bubbling into words of faith, even when they are hesitant, can have an effect. For if those we love have not heard, how are they going to believe? Come, Holy Spirit, fill the words of your faithful!

Consider/Discuss

Jesus breathed on his future preachers and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” This tender waft of Jesus’ air became the mighty wind of Pentecost. Who has breathed on you words that have transformed your life?
Faith is caught as much as it is taught. Yet words are necessary. We have to speak. Where do you struggle with speaking—talk too little? too much? too unthinkingly? too carefully? Spend a little time in prayer, discerning where your words may have hurt and how very much your words of love matter. What do you need to do to become a more Holy Spirit–inspired speaker?

Living and Praying with the Word

On this holy day of days, Holy Spirit, erupt within us. Send tongues of fire upon us so that we are aflame with your joy. We cannot fulfill our mission on our own strength. You are the Delight of delights, the Wonder of wonders. We are thrilled to exult in you. You are Holy Wisdom; fill us this day so that your inspired words radiate out through us into a world hungry for your glory.

Jan 10 2025

Scripture Study for

Pentecost was the Greek name for the summer harvest festival held fifty days after Passover (Deuteronomy 16:9–12). It was one of the three pilgrimage festivals in which “devout Jews from every nation under heaven” were expected to come to Jerusalem. At the sound of a strong driving wind these same Jews rush to the scene to discover Jesus’ disciples speaking in their various languages. Ultimately, the Spirit’s work will not be limited to the “gift of tongues,” but this along with the power to speak of “the mighty acts of God” is the most immediate effect of Pentecost. With the coming of the Spirit, the disciples are equipped to further Jesus’ mission to gather “all nations” to God, beginning with Israel.

Socioeconomic divisions in Corinth have been exacerbated by a tendency to interpret different charisms of the Spirit as status indicators. Paul emphasizes that God has endowed the Corinthians with a variety of gifts—different gifts, different forms of service, different workings—that are meant to enrich the community, not divide it. They have not been given to individuals as much as they have been given to the community as a whole, and for the whole community’s benefit. The fact that the same Spirit is responsible for the variety of gifts means that, ultimately, they are meant to unify the one body of Christ, which the Spirit is building and unifying through those same gifts.

In John’s Gospel the risen Lord bestows the Spirit on his followers not at Pentecost but on the evening of the Resurrection. Compelled by fear to barricade themselves behind doors, they nevertheless suddenly discover that Christ has been able to enter into their midst. Although some of his disciples may have good reason to fear even him, having abandoned him at his darkest hour, Jesus greets them immediately with peace. His wounds are offered not as a reproach, but as evidence that it is he, the wounded Jesus, who greets them with twice peace, a sign of reconciliation. Breathing on them the promised Holy Spirit (14:15–17), Jesus empowers them to offer that same reconciliation through the forgiveness of sins.

Jan 07 2025

The Quiet, Tender Spirit

Happy Pentecost! This is the day on which we celebrate the life-changing power of God. The apostles preach to the ends of the earth through the strength of the Spirit and the church is born. Big, powerful, great stuff!

As I reflect on the grand event of Pentecost, I am holding my four-day-old granddaughter in the rocking chair. Her soft hair brushes my cheek. Her breath is irregular and a little squeaky. Her tiny body sinks onto my chest, asleep. Softness toward this new life swells into my throat. That tenderness brings to mind who the Holy Spirit is in my life.

I have had a few grand sweeping moments when the Spirit has filled me with fire to go out and change the world. But more often, the Comforter has come in the quiet of the night, bringing peace in a moment of grief, courage in a time of desolation, strength when I felt that I had no strength left. Like the touch of baby hair on my cheek, I have felt nudges so gentle. Like her soft breathing, I have felt a breath so tender. Like her body nestled into my chest, I have felt a Presence so warm. So . . . what? So held. As I am holding this tiny child.

I could be mistaken. I could be the most deluded of women. This might be all in my mind. I only tell you what I have seen and heard. My life has been touched by the Spirit, the Holy One who is with us. Jesus tells us in today’s Gospel that he must go. But we are never left alone. We are not abandoned; we are held. The most powerful of Advocates enfolds us as the most tender, the gentlest, and the warmest of Comforters. This Pentecost day. And all ordinary and everyday days.

Consider/Discuss

Describe a tender moment in your life. How has that experience of tenderness led you to God and love?
At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit spoke through the apostles in many tongues and in many different ways. The Holy Spirit continues to speak through us: many spiritual gifts but the same Spirit, many forms of service but the same Lord. You may not be rocking a newborn baby at the moment. But what unique experiences do you have through which the Spirit would like to speak to this world?

Living and Praying with the Word

Holy Spirit, we offer you this Pentecost day. Help us not to be too proud to surrender to you. You want to be at work through us. But we are as powerless as a newborn child. We cannot hold our heads up by ourselves. We struggle to breathe the air of this world. We get cold. We get startled. We need you. Divine Comforter, surround us and enfold us this day. Be our warmth. Be our breath. Be our strength. In this surrender, you are our happiness. Come, Holy Spirit, and renew the face of the earth!