Acts 2: 1-11; Psalm 103(104); Romans 8: 8-17; John 14: 15-16, 23-26
The Jewish feast of Pentecost, 50 days after Passover, was less well known than the other two pilgrimage feasts. Passover was linked to the nomadic sacrifice of lambs and the barley harvest in the Spring. Tabernacles after the grape harvest was associated with the wanderings in the desert. Recently it was realised that Pentecost was associated with God giving the Covenant on Sinai. So the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles at Pentecost fits neatly with this Covenant feast: the formal birth of the Christian Church. Acts lists the regions where the Church was to grow.
The psalm calls us to praise God’s creative wisdom. Filled with wonder at the details of God’s glorious works, this psalm is well worth reading in full.
Paul urges the Romans to live by the Spirit who, with Christ, has made his home in us. We are now Sons of God. If we are led by the Spirit within us to follow God’s laws, we will have confidence that the
Father will “give life to our mortal bodies”, just as Jesus was raised.
In John’s Gospel we hear from Jesus’ long Last Supper talk, promising that his Father would send the Advocate, through whom he and the Father would be with his church for all time.
Psalm Response: Send forth your Spirit, O Lord, and renew the face of the earth.
(Acts 2: 1-11; Psalm 103(104); Romans 8: 8-17; John 14: 15-16, 23-26)