08 June 2025 - Pentecost Sunday, Year C

Theme

This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday. Our readings this week speak to the coming of the Holy Spirit and the priveleges that come with the Spirit’s presence with us.

Scripture Readings

• Genesis 11:1-9 - The people began building a tower that reaches the sky so that they would be famous and not be scattered all over the world. God sees that they are united in this task and decides to make them speak different languages. This caused the people to scatter all over the world and they stopped building the City.
• Acts 2:1-21 - The story of Pentecost. While the believers were meeting, a mighty wind blew threw and tongues of fire settled on them. Everyone was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages. Some call them drunk and Peter explains that what is happening was predicted by the prophet Joel.
• Psalm 104:24-34, 35b - A Psalm praising God’s diversity in Creation. God takes pleasure in all that God has made.
• Romans 8:14-17 - All who are led by the Spirit are children of God. The presence of God’s Spirit makes us children of God. Together with Christ, we are heirs of God’s glory as well as suffering.
• John 14:8-17, (25-27) - Phillip asks to see the Father, but Jesus says that anyone who has seen him has seen the Father. Jesus then says that anyone who believes in him will do greater works than him and anything they ask for will be granted. “If you love me, obey my commandments.” Jesus then promises an advocate, the Holy Spirit, to remain with his followers. The Holy Spirit will teach you everything and will remind you of everything Jesus has told us and give us peace.

The Context

Christians celebrate Pentecost as the beginning of the Christian Church and the arrival of the Holy Spirit to all believers. Pentecost (meaning 50) refers to the 50 days after Easter.

Personal Application

Pentecost is a prime opportunity to be reminded of the priveleges that come with living life in the presence of the Holy Spirit.

This week’s readings reminds us that the Holy Spirit brings unity, peace, leads us into all truth and calls us children of God. It is through the presence of the Holy Spirit that we can know Christ and God. Those empowered by the Holy Spirit will obey God’s commandments. The Holy Spirit is God’s advocate who teaches us and reminds us of everything Jesus told us. Because we are children of God by the presence of the Spirit, we become heirs of God and gain access to Christ’s glories while also sharing in his sufferings.

What do these reminders teach us about the Holy Spirit’s presence with each of us as individuals? Do we notice these priveleges of the Holy Spirit in our own lives? Where do we notice the Spirit’s priveleges present in other people who we have written off as heathens and unbelievers?

Communal Application

Another key theme in our readings for this week is unity and inclusitvity. In Genesis 11, the people become separated and they begin speaking different languages. This problem is rectified at Pentecost where everyone can understand each other, regardless of their nationality, because of the power of the Holy Spirit. This beautiful story reminds us of the way the Holy Spirit works to bring unity amongst people of diverse opinions and backgrounds. Psalm 104 is a beautiful poem celebrating the diversity in God’s creation.

Too often, we tend to think of diversity as a negative thing. We fight for conformity and uniformity, instead of unity in the midst of diversity. The children of God are full of rich, beautiful diversity. We stain the work of the Spirit if we do not honour each others differences, whether it be their personality, race, sexuality, gender, or beliefs.

How do we, as a church, fight for unity rather than uniformity? How do we honour the diversity in God’s creation and children in our communities?