Daily Readings - Sun Jun 09 2019
Acts
1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.5Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.6When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.7Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?8Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?9Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome11(both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs--we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!"
First Reading - 1 Corinthians 12.3b-7, 12-13 or Romans 8.8-17
1 Corinthians
3Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.12The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.13For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
Romans
8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.9You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it.13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.15For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.17Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Gospel - John 20.19-23 or John 14.15-16, 23b-26
John
19On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"20After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.21Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."22And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.23If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."
John
15"If you love me, you will obey what I command.16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--23Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.24He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.25"All this I have spoken while still with you.26But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. The first reading from Acts 2.1-11 describes the Pentecost event, where the Holy Spirit descends upon the apostles, enabling them to speak in various languages. This moment signifies the church's universal mission, breaking down barriers and uniting people across nations. The second reading from 1 Corinthians 12.3b-7, 12-13 emphasizes the unity in diversity through the Holy Spirit, likening the church to a body with many parts working together in harmony. The Gospel, John 20.19-23, shows Jesus sending the disciples out, breathing the Holy Spirit upon them to forgive sins, underscoring the Spirit's role in mission and reconciliation.
These readings are set in pivotal moments: Pentecost, the early church's diversity, and the post-resurrection mission. They highlight the Holy Spirit's role in empowerment, unity, and mission. The Spirit's outpouring at Pentecost launched the church's evangelistic mission, while in Corinth, it wove together diverse gifts into one body. In John, the Spirit equips the disciples for their mission, reflecting Jesus' own mission from the Father.
In our daily lives, the Holy Spirit calls us to embrace our unique roles within the body of Christ, using our diverse gifts to serve and unite others. Just as the apostles were empowered to transcend language barriers, we too can overcome divisions through the Spirit. Let us seek the Holy Spirit's guidance to live as one body, fostering unity and reconciliation in our communities. The moral lesson is clear: the Holy Spirit equips us to fulfill our mission, bringing peace and forgiveness to a world in need.