Daily Readings - Sun May 31 2020
Acts
1And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.5And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.6Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.7And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?8And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?9Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,10Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,11Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
1 Corinthians
3Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.4Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.5And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.6And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.7But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.12For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.13For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
John
19Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.20And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.21Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.22And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:23Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye 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.