Sermon – Pentecost Sunday, Great Feast, Year A – May 23, 2026
- May 23
- 4 min read
Today we celebrate the great feast of Pentecost. The great day awaited by all and promised by Jesus is taking place today. Today is the day the apostles received the Holy Spirit and the day the Church was born.
Forty days after Easter, Jesus ascended to heaven. Fifty days after Easter, he sent the Holy Spirit to us. The word "Pentecost" comes from the Greek word " pentakoste ," meaning "fiftieth ." Today is the fiftieth day after Easter.
The arrival of the Holy Spirit shows that God never wants to leave us alone. God did not create us to abandon us. He wants to be with us and help us until the last day of our lives. He did so through His Son Jesus. After Jesus returned to the Father, God sent the Holy Spirit to be with us.
In today's Bible, we see the apostles in a closed room. After Jesus was crucified, they were filled with fear, tension, and uncertainty. They feared the Jews and didn't know what would happen.
In the midst of this atmosphere of fear, the resurrected Jesus appears among them, and his first words are: “Peace be with you!” And Jesus repeats it a second time: “Peace be with you!”
It is no coincidence that Jesus prayed for peace twice. This is because the hearts of his apostles were restless. It is difficult for a person filled with fear to hear the voice of God.
The peace that Jesus gives is not simply the absence of problems. It is the confidence that God is with us even in the midst of storms. It is a peace that comes from the resurrection.
Then Jesus makes a very meaningful gesture: “He breathed on them.” This gesture is reminiscent of creation. God initially breathed the breath of life into man. Now Jesus is giving the apostles a new life: the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit transforms fearful people into courageous witnesses. The apostles, hidden behind closed doors, will later proclaim the Gospel to the whole world.
And Jesus, with the Holy Spirit, gives them a great task: “Whoever you forgive, will be forgiven.” Thus begins the ministry of forgiveness and mercy in the Church. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of forgiveness, reconciliation, and new life.
What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit? According to church tradition, the Holy Spirit has seven gifts:
Wisdom is being able to see life through God's eyes.
Understanding is the ability to deeply grasp the word of God.
Advice is about choosing the right path.
Strength is being able to remain steadfast in the face of adversity.
Knowledge is the ability to perceive God's presence in creation.
Piety is being able to live with God as a loving Father.
The fear of God, however, is not so much fear as it is a deep respect and love for God.
These gifts are not merely thoughts; they are the work of the Holy Spirit within us.
How do we know that we are living in the presence of the Holy Spirit? We can understand this through the fruits of our lives.
A person who lives with the Holy Spirit seeks peace and does not sow discord;
He knows how to forgive;
he loves more;
He/She will be patient;
He does not lose courage in the face of difficulties;
He seeks the truth;
He wants to pray;
He tries to stay away from sin.
And it gives hope to others.
Saint Paul lists the fruits of the Holy Spirit as follows: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
If a person lives only for themselves, remaining consumed by hatred, pride, selfishness, and unforgiveness, they stray from the voice of the Holy Spirit.
Pentecost today calls us to open the doors of our hearts. The apostles had closed those doors; but after the Holy Spirit came, they became new people.
Today, ... will become a new person with the Holy Spirit. He/She will receive the Sacrament of Empowerment. With this sacrament, he/she will strengthen his/her faith and receive the Holy Spirit into his/her soul.
This is a sacrament that leaves an indelible mark on the soul. The soul will receive a mark that will never be erased. This mark will be the mark given to it by the Holy Spirit; it will make it ready to listen to the voice of God and to be guided by the Holy Spirit.
Today, let us all open our hearts and receive the Holy Spirit. He desires to enter our lives and accompany us every day. But we must plead with Him to come to us.
Today Jesus comes to us and says again: “Peace be with you!” And with this peace, He gives us the Holy Spirit.
Let us all pray together today: “Come, Holy Spirit! Renew our hearts, remove our fears, teach us forgiveness, and make us witnesses of the peace of Christ.”
May Mary, the mother of the Church, who joined the apostles on Pentecost, teach us to live each day under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
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