Stroll through Scripture for Pentecost 2025

Based on Acts 2:1-4; Galatians 4:1-7, 5:16-26

The Narrative Lectionary gives us the story of the first Pentecost in combination with the end of his letter to the Galatians.  At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit makes a grand entrance.  At the end of Paul’s letter, we hear about the fruits of the Spirit.  How appropriate to link these two passages together on this day.  

Often, we think of Pentecost as strictly a Christian celebration.  But its roots are actually Jewish.  It was a Jewish harvest festival known as Shavuot, taking place 50 days after Passover.  But with the descent of the Holy Spirit, Pentecost takes on a new meaning for Christians – it is the birthday of the church.  

The Book of Acts starts with the Ascension of Jesus into heaven, leaving a type of void for 10 days until the Holy Spirit shows up in Acts 2.  The theme of the book is one of expansion.  Jesus even acknowledges this in Acts 1:8 when he tells the disciples, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  Going forward in the book, we keep seeing the circle of who’s considered a part of God’s kingdom expand ever farther – to the ends of the earth.  

In Paul’s letter, he has been addressing works and grace.  He’s arguing the Gentiles below because they are descendants of Abraham and that the Gentiles are children of God.  

Over the years, it seems that there has been an over emphasis on controlling the “desires of the flesh” that Paul lists in 5:19-21.  The church took on the role of a type of morality police in many places.  But it often lost sight of the other list that Paul has – the fruits of the Spirit in 5:22-23.  Imagine if over the years the church spent more time focused and emphasizing the fruits of the Spirit.  I wonder how the world would be different.  

Some of this probably comes from the natural human propensity to point fingers at other people’s sins rather than do our own self-examination.  But I will echo what Paul writes in 5:25 – “If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.”  Good advice that is never too late to be implemented.  

Questions for further reflection:

• The story of Pentecost includes a reference to a multitude of languages being spoken.  Being filled with the Spirit is not just about refraining from doing “bad” things, but rather proclamation of God’s good news for all to hear.  How are we proclaiming that good news?
• Paul lists the fruits of the Spirit – signs of how the Spirit embodies a person.  Where do we see these signs in our midst?