Daily Readings - Sun May 28 2023

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!"

1 Corinthians

Chapter 12

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.

John

Chapter 20

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."

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.