Our readings for May 24th, 2026, Pentecost Sunday, follow. For a combined link to read them online, go here.
John 7:37-39
Acts 2:1-21
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
1 Corinthians 12:3b-13
- In John 7, we see the last day of the Feast of Booths, when Jesus loudly proclaims that anyone who spiritually thirsts can come to him, believe and trust in him, and living waters will flow from his heart. He was talking about the Holy Spirit, which would be given after Jesus went to Glory.
- This is the day of Pentecost, which was a harvest feast for Jews, many of whom would come to celebrate it in Jerusalem. Here in Acts 2, on this day, the Holy Spirit descended upon the gathered disciples, filled them, and they began to speak in other languages to all the people who had come. We celebrate this as the birthday, the proper beginning, of the church. Peter preaches to the crowd and three thousand of them were baptized on that day.
- Our Psalm 104 celebrates the wonders of the world, created and renewed by the Holy Spirit of God. Many who have attended Emmaus or Via de Cristo weekends will recognize the verses here as the source from which the gathering prayer is composed.
- Here in 1 Corinthians 12, we see the many gifts given by the Holy Spirit to us as believers. We are all individuals with different talents and abilities, but we are all necessary and important for the Body of Christ in its mission to worship, to spread the good news, and to serve in the world. We all, too, are filled with the same Spirit, which enables in us spiritual gifts to work and to serve for the common good.
We see here the beauty of the plan of God. Jesus came to save us all. He worked perfectly with the Holy Spirit his entire physical life. After his resurrection and ascension, he sends the Spirit to all of us, to be filled and to continue the work and wonders of love he has called each of us to. Through these gifts we serve the Body and call the entire world to the kingdom of God.
Blessings,
Rod