Gospel for May 24 2026 – John 20:19-23
Gospel Reflections for May 24 2026
Everyone understands…
Not too long after Jesus ascends into Heaven, which we celebrated last week, about 120 men and women disciples of Jesus are hiding in a room for fear of the crowd outside.
The people who killed Jesus are still out there …and looking for them! Jesus had always been nearby, and now He was gone. How could they go on?
Then the Holy Spirit arrives as a powerful wind and fire. Look what happens next.
They burst out of hiding and head right for that hostile crowd! They boldly spoke to everyone with confidence and courage that completely changed the crowd from hostile …to conversion! They could not have done this on their own. It was the power of the Holy Spirit that led them right to the people who had earlier frightened them.
Amazingly, even though they speak their own Aramaic language, people in the crowd from different countries can understand them. This miracle has an ancient origin.
Shortly after the time of Adam and Eve, people once again sinned, and with great pride and arrogance tried to build a tall tower that would challenge God’s power (Genesis 11:1-9). This is the famous Tower of Babel story. However, the people suddenly find they can no longer understand each other and so their arrogant project collapses. Their different languages divide them from each other.
In today’s Gospel, the disciples speak the language of love, and everyone understands their heartfelt words! People from different countries understood their words even though the disciples only spoke their native Aramaic. Their words of love, inspired by the Holy Spirit, unites them to the crowd, and everyone in the crowd to each other. That is what words of love do. Thousands were baptized that day!
Everyone at the time of Jesus would have recognized this miracle of language at Pentecost as the correction to the pride of the builders of the Tower of Babel.
Parish programs and especially building projects should always have the same goal, which is always about showing the love of God.
That is our goal for our new Parish Hall, that it will be a place for all kinds of people to experience the love of God in many different activities. From exciting school sports to meaningful sacrament receptions, to concerts, to classes, and to memorable banquets, we hope our new Parish Hall will help people feel the love of God in every event!
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
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