05/24/2026
The Day of Pentecost, the fiftieth day after Passover was a day of festivities that would have brought a lot of pilgrims to Jerusalem, and obviously it did. There were people from as far away as Rome and Libya to the West, as well as the lands of Mesopotamia to the East, and everywhere in between. There was a diverse buzz of activity and languages.
Our reading from Acts begins with a mighty rush of wind and fiery tongues of the Holy Spirit descended, the “tower of Babble” incident was reversed as the disciples began speaking in tongues that were heard in the native languages of the international gathering for Pentecost. It’s part of Luke’s literary Chiasma — abc/cba — events leading to and heading out from the crucifixion, a theological turning point in history, if you will.
Our John reading gives us the recap of the upper room experience when Jesus breathed on the disciples and said “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Which sounds nice and powerful, but as we continue to read John, their applying of that Spirit wasn’t quick coming. Was it? Even after the re-appearance to that rational-thinking Thomas — which by the way, there was no breathing on — the disciples best response to the Spirit was to go fishing? What’s up with that?
Father Richard Rohr believes it’s a growing awareness of the Spirit that has been freely given to all. “The Holy Spirit has already come. We all are temples of the Holy Spirit—equally, objectively, and forever! The only difference is the degree to which we know it, draw upon it, and consciously believe it.” As Jesus shared with Nic-at-night, “The pneuma … you do not know where it comes from or where it goes.” The Greek word pneuma means wind, breath, or spirit. In other words the Spirit’s there, it’s always there, we just have to have the courage to open our sails to see where that mighty Holy Wind will carry us. Happy Pentecost! Let’s kick the tires, and light the fires!
Come Join us at Trinity Lutheran at 9:30am and Redeemer Lutheran at 11am. Both services will be live-streamed on YouTube and Facebook.
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