Daily Readings - Sun Jun 04 2017
1 Corinthians
3Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says "Jesus is accursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except in the Holy Spirit.4Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;5and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;6and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.7To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.12For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.13For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
John
19On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."20When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.21Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you."22And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.23If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the Holy Spirit’s role in uniting and empowering the Church. In the second reading from 1 Corinthians, St. Paul reminds us that while there are diverse gifts and ministries, they all come from the same Spirit. He uses the analogy of the body to emphasize that just as each part of the body has a unique function, so too does each member of the Church have a unique role to play in building up the Body of Christ. This passage encourages us to recognize and value the diversity of spiritual gifts among us, while remaining united in our shared mission.
In the Gospel, we see Jesus appearing to his disciples after the resurrection. Despite their fear and the locked doors, Jesus brings them peace and sends them out on a mission. By breathing on them and giving them the Holy Spirit, he empowers them to forgive sins and to continue his work in the world. This moment is foundational for the Church’s understanding of its mission and identity. Just as the disciples were sent out in the power of the Spirit, so too are we called to live as missionary disciples, sharing the peace and reconciliation of Christ with others.
These readings remind us that the Holy Spirit is the source of unity and diversity in the Church. The Spirit binds us together as one Body, even as it equips each of us with unique gifts and callings. In our daily lives, we are called to recognize the Spirit’s presence within us and among us. Let us ask for the grace to embrace our diverse roles, to work together in harmony, and to be open to the Spirit’s guidance. May we, like the disciples, be instruments of God’s peace and reconciliation in a world that so desperately needs it.