Ordinary Time

Pause

The Spirit of God comforts, calls, and challenges.

You are comforted in moments when God seems hidden. You are called to share the gifts the Spirit reveals to you. You are challenged to be the presence of Christ in all you do, all you say, and in who you are.

Be open to the Spirit’s comfort and challenges now in these next quiet moments.

Listen

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Acts 2:1–4

Think

Chris grew up playing soccer. He attended church as often as he could but always wondered how God would use his gifts when it seemed soccer, his gift, kept him away from church so often. After his senior year of high school, on a mission trip with his youth group to Honduras, he was asked to play soccer with the kids in the village. Through his ability to play, he became instantly popular among the boys. By the end of the week, speaking through a translator, he was able to share about his love for Jesus.

When this passage is read, we focus on the spoken words used, but other languages give us the opportunity to build relationships across cultures and be the presence of Christ accordingly. If you had to list the different gifts of the Spirit that aided you in speaking to others, what would the list include? Would it be musical talent, athletic talent, your sense of humor, or your ability to write? Like Chris, you have God-given gifts. How will you use them today?

Brian Foreman

Pray

God, the things that I am good at are things I take for granted. Thank you for these gifts. Help me know how I can bless others through them. Amen.

Go

As the Spirit comforts you, give comfort to others. As the Spirit calls you, respond with your gifts. As the Spirit challenges, be the loving presence of God to the world around you.