Spirit of the Living God – 28 May 2023

John 20:19–23

The disciples are hiding behind locked doors for fear of the Jews. (John's anti-Jewish attitude is clear.) In spite of the locked doors, Jesus appears to the disciples and says, “Peace be with you.” Peace comes after victory. The peace that Jesus gives is the peace after his victory over death, a peace given to the disciples, who now share in the victory (see 14:27). –– Jeffery Galbraith

You do not need to visit Jerusalem to experience Pentecost. . . Pentecost happens every time when people gather and experience God. Every time when people are filled with the Holy Spirit, every time when things happen that cannot be explained. Every time people experience the power of prayer. Every time people read Scripture together. Every time people gather for worship. Every time your faith tells you to act. Every time you experience you are not alone, but you are connected to a family to whom you are not related by earthly blood. –– Sigrid Rother

1 Corinthians 12:3b–13

Apparently, at the church in Corinth certain members viewed some spiritual gifts better than others, with the result that a ranking of gifts took place in the church. There was an emphasis upon differences with the result that the community was not one body, but divided. Paul carefully sets out to correct this notion. Paul's answer seeks to put the emphasis on the building-up work of the Spirit manifested in love in the community, rather than on some demonstration of the Spirit manifested in personal show for the sake of personal glory. –– Jeffery Galbraith

Acts 2:1–21

The lessons for Pentecost vividly describe how the faithful are empowered with the Spirit for the building-up and care of the creation. In the story of the first Pentecost, Luke continues his carefully crafted drama of God's plan for salvation. . . It is best to read the story in Acts 2 as high drama, motivated by Luke's theological vision. Luke sets the stage for his drama in Jerusalem at the Jewish festival of Pentecost where the disciples are gathered in one place (vv 1–5). This setting is important, for Luke's emphasis on Jerusalem thereby stresses the importance of Israel as the bearer of the promises made by God. In Acts, the proclamation of salvation moves out from Jerusalem and spreads to all the world.

The Spirit is very important in Luke-Acts. The disciples are filled with the Holy Spirit and suddenly able to speak in other languages (Acts 2:4). Throughout the rest of Acts, the Spirit directs the disciples in their proclamation of salvation. Suddenly the scene shifts from the disciples gathered to a large crowd of pilgrims. They are amazed because they hear the disciples each in their own voice. Is there an anti-Babel theme here? Now all the languages are understood (see Genesis 11:1–9). The list of nations is highly stylized; however, the list is important for the narrative, because again it makes clear that the message of salvation was proclaimed to all of Israel first. –– Jeffery Galbraith

Jeffrey Galbraith is pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Greenfield, MA, and a professor of business administration at Greenfield Community College.

Sigrid Rother is the associate pastor of Westerville Community Church, United Church of Christ, Westerville, Ohio.

Homily Service 41, no. 2 (2008): 155–162.