Pentecost Sunday

Jan 30 2025

Holy Spirit, Speech Teacher

The King’s Speech was a movie particularly effective in communicating the torture of not being able to speak one’s mind. We first meet Bertie, the man who would become King George VI, as he is about to speak to his people over the radio. Frustration, shame, embarrassment, anger, even terror—all pass over his face as he tries to speak the simplest words, which cannot get past his debilitating stammer. The movie is about a teacher, Lionel Logue, who comes into his life, becomes his friend, and helps him find his voice.

We have all been given the gift of the Holy Spirit who empowers us to speak the language of faith, hope, and love. As Paul reminds the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 12:3b), “No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.” The gift of God’s Spirit brings us to articulate our faith in Jesus as the Son of God. And the Spirit keeps the conversation going even when we become tongue-tied, as Paul expresses so beautifully in Romans where he writes that even when we do not know how we ought to pray, “through our inarticulate groans the Spirit is pleading for us” (8:26).

When Jesus breathed on the apostles and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit,” he was sending to them the great gift of divine life and making them children of the new creation, empowering them to be carriers of this new life through the gospel of salvation they would preach to the ends of the earth.

Consider/Discuss

When have you felt the Spirit working through the words of others in everyday life?
God continues to speak to us at every Eucharist through the readings and the preaching. What helps you to be attentive to what God may be trying to say?

Responding to the Word

Come, Holy Spirit, come. Give us your wisdom and understanding. Loosen our tongues to bless and praise the Father and the Son for the great gift we received at our baptism, when we came to birth in your life-giving grace. Increase our faith so we might proclaim with all our hearts, “Jesus is Lord!”

Jan 30 2025

Scripture Study for

The external manifestations that accompanied the outpouring of the Spirit at the time of Pentecost were all phenomena associated with a theophany or experience of God. As those in the room were filled with the Spirit, they began to speak in other languages, a feat that could only have supernatural origin. Because the Galileans spoke in tongues and those in the crowd heard them in their own speech, some commentators maintain that there was a miracle in hearing as well as in speaking. The exact nature of this marvel is less significant than is its meaning. It was clearly a manifestation of the universal presence and power of the Spirit. “Lord” (Kyrios) was the official title of the Roman emperor. Thus, to proclaim Jesus as Lord was to set up a rivalry between Jesus and the ruling political authority. “Lord” is also the substitute, in the Septuagint or Greek version of the Old Testament, for God’s personal name. Paul compares the diversity within the community to the complexity of the human body. Each part has its own unique function, but all parts work for the good of the whole. This metaphor portrays unity in diversity that is far from uniformity. It also underscores the lack of competition among members. Finally, it points up the interdependence that exists within the community. This Gospel account treats the Resurrection and the bestowal of the Spirit as occurring on the same day. Jesus’ wish of peace is a prayer for the eschatological blessings of health, prosperity, and all good things. The image of breathing life into another is reminiscent of the creation of Adam (see Genesis 2:7) and the restoration of Israel after the Exile (see Ezekiel 37:9). By breathing in this way, the risen Lord portrays himself as one who can create or re-create. The disciples are commissioned to go forth, to declare salvation and judgment. With the bestowal of the Spirit, they are authorized to continue the mission of Jesus.

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.