Daily Readings - Sun May 28 2023

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 the transformative power of the Holy Spirit, highlighting unity, diversity, and mission. In Acts, Pentecost unites people from various backgrounds through the Holy Spirit, who enables the apostles to speak in many languages, symbolizing the universal call to spread God's word. Corinthians emphasizes that while spiritual gifts vary, they stem from the same Spirit, likening the church to a unified body with diverse parts. In John, Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to empower the disciples, giving them authority to forgive sins and continue His mission. These readings connect through the theme of the Holy Spirit's role in the church. Acts shows the Spirit's power to transcend cultural barriers, Corinthians highlights the unity amidst diversity, and John illustrates the Spirit's empowerment for mission. Together, they remind us that the church is a unified, diverse body, called to spread God's love and forgiveness. In our daily lives, let us embrace our unique roles within the church, supported by the Holy Spirit. Just as the apostles were empowered, we too can overcome challenges and share God's message. Let us seek the Spirit's guidance to foster unity and diversity, and to fulfill our mission with compassion and courage.