Daily Readings - Sun May 31 2020

¹And when the days of Pentecost were completed, they were all together in the same place²And suddenly, there came a sound from heaven, like that of a wind approaching violently, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting³And there appeared to them separate tongues, as if of fire, which settled upon each one of them⁴And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. And they began to speak in various languages, just as the Holy Spirit bestowed eloquence to them⁵Now there were Jews staying in Jerusalem, pious men from every nation that is under heaven⁶And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together and was confused in mind, because each one was listening to them speaking in his own language⁷Then all were astonished, and they wondered, saying: "Behold, are not all of these who are speaking Galileans⁸And how is it that we have each heard them in our own language, into which we were born⁹Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and those who inhabit Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia¹⁰Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya which are around Cyrene, and new arrivals of the Romans¹¹likewise Jews and new converts, Cretans and Arabs: we have heard them speaking in our own languages the mighty deeds of God.

1 Corinthians

Chapter 12

³Because of this, I would have you know that no one speaking in the Spirit of God utters a curse against Jesus. And no one is able to say that Jesus is Lord, except in the Holy Spirit⁴Truly, there are diverse graces, but the same Spirit⁵And there are diverse ministries, but the same Lord⁶And there are diverse works, but the same God, who works everything in everyone⁷However, the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one toward what is beneficial¹²For just as the body is one, and yet has many parts, so all the parts of the body, though they are many, are only one body. So also is Christ¹³And indeed, in one Spirit, we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether servant or free. And we all drank in the one Spirit

John

Chapter 20

¹⁹Then, when it was late on the same day, on the first of the Sabbaths, and the doors were closed where the disciples were gathered, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and he said to them: "Peace to you.²⁰And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and side. And the disciples were gladdened when they saw the Lord²¹Therefore, he said to them again: "Peace to you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.²²When he had said this, he breathed on them. And he said to them: "Receive the Holy Spirit²³Those whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them, and those whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.

Sermon

The readings today guide us through a journey of the Holy Spirit's transformative power and its implications for our lives. In Acts, we witness the Pentecost event, where the Holy Spirit unites people from diverse backgrounds, enabling them to understand one another. This miracle signifies the Church's universal mission, breaking down barriers of language and culture. In Corinthians, we learn that while spiritual gifts may vary, they all originate from the same Spirit, uniting us as one body in Christ. The Gospel shows Jesus empowering His disciples with the Holy Spirit, sending them forth to forgive sins and continue His mission. These readings intertwine beautifully, highlighting the Holy Spirit's role in fostering unity amidst diversity and empowering believers for service. Pentecost's diversity mirrors the diverse gifts in Corinthians, both pointing to the Spirit's unifying force. Jesus' act of sending His disciples, as seen in the Gospel, underscores the mission that flows from this unity and empowerment. In our daily lives, this means embracing our unique gifts and backgrounds to serve others. Just as the early Church united diverse people, we too can bridge divides by valuing each person's contribution. The Holy Spirit equips us to go beyond our comfort zones, to forgive, and to serve. Let us seek to embody this unity and mission, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us in fostering a community where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute.