Reflection on Pentecost Sunday

May 24, 2026

Acts 2:1-11; Psalm 104; 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7,12-13; Matthew 28:16-20

Suddenly there came from the sky a noise like strong driving wind

Early one Sunday morning some years ago, I was awakened by a sound like very heavy breathing outside of the room in the convent where I was sleeping. It was a bit alarming. A few feet beyond the window was a road, but there was no traffic this early, and I couldn’t imagine what would cause such a noise!

Looking out the window and around the neighborhood didn’t reveal the source of the sound—until I looked up and was astonished to see a brightly colored hot air balloon floating in the morning sun above the nearby rooftops. No wonder the balloon’s pilot was blasting its burner! The flame had to heat the air as quickly as possible to keep the balloon aloft.

On the first Pentecost, a similar experience was shared by the hopeful followers of Christ who were praying and waiting patiently with Mary. The risen Lord had told them the Holy Spirit would come, but Jesus had ascended heavenward and seemed to leave them alone. How they yearned for the Gift that Jesus had promised them! In an unexpected way, soon they would meet Him!

The first reading tells us, “There came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind.” The bewildered disciples must have looked around, from one to the other! What was that? What does it mean? The Gospel doesn’t share how long it was before the second event occurred. The next passage reads, “There appeared to them tongues as of fire that parted and came to rest on each one of them.”

The wind and the fire were God’s signs. An astounding miracle resulted – the Apostles were speaking to a large crowd in many different languages “of the mighty acts of God.” The breath of the Holy Spirit filled their words with living power and their fiery words inspired the people who opened their hearts to listen.

That first Pentecost brought a wonderful change in the Apostles! The Holy Spirit still descends today, even when His wind and fire come more gently. We, too, are called to share God’s love. May the embrace of our words and the warmth of our affection help to open hearts again to listen, as on that first Pentecost.

We hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.