Hello, Reader!
This Sunday, May 24, we celebrate the Day of Pentecost—the vibrant gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church.
We remember the moment when God’s promised Holy Spirit descended upon the gathered disciples like a rushing wind and in flames of fire, transforming their fear into bold proclamation and their uncertainty into confident witness.
FIRST READING – Acts 2:1–21 On the day of Pentecost, the disciples gathered in Jerusalem to await God’s promised gift. Suddenly, a sound like a violent wind filled the entire house. Divided tongues of fire appeared, and all were filled with the Holy Spirit, speaking in other languages. A crowd gathered from every nation under heaven, each hearing the disciples speak in their own native language. Peter declared that this fulfilled the prophecy of Joel: “I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,” reaching across every human boundary—sons and daughters, young and old, slaves and free.
PSALM 104:25–35, 37 The psalmist praises God’s manifold works, declaring that all creatures turn to God for sustenance. A profound verse reads: “You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; and so you renew the face of the earth.” The Spirit who brought everything into existence at the beginning continues to create and renew today.
SECOND READING – 1 Corinthians 12:3b–13 Paul teaches that the Holy Spirit bestows diverse gifts—wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, and tongues—all intended “for the common good.” Just as the human body is one yet has many parts, the Church is the body of Christ, unified by one Spirit. Whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, we have all been baptized into one body and made to drink from one Spirit.
GOSPEL – John 20:19–23 On the evening of the Resurrection, Jesus appears to the disciples behind locked doors and says, “Peace be with you.” He shows them his hands and side, and the disciples rejoice. Jesus commissions them: “Just as the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” He breathes on them and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit,” thereby empowering them to offer reconciliation and to forgive sins.
Pentecost marks the Church's birth as a missionary community. The Spirit breaks down the barriers—linguistic, cultural, and national—that divide humanity and forms a new community unified under one Lord. For us today, Pentecost invites us to receive the Spirit's gifts anew so we can witness to Christ in our time and break down the barriers that divide us.
Come, Holy Spirit!
Read the full readings and reflections
The podcast of today's service will be available later today on your favorite podcast platform, or you can listen here.
Don’t forget to review this week's announcements and the church calendar.
This week in your prayers, please include those on our prayer list to help strengthen our community.
If you need inspiration for prayer, consider the Book of Common Prayer or these prayers to guide your prayer journey.
Blessings, and have a great week!
