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Pentecost 2026

‘And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit”’

‘Ac wedi dweud hyn, anadlodd arnynt a dweud: “Derbyniwch yr Ysbryd Glân’” (Io 20:22)

Here in Great Britain we are used to celebrating Harvest Festivals in the Autumn, at the end of the Harvest. However, that was not the case in Ancient Israel. Fifty days after the Passover, Jews celebrate the first of two Harvest festivals: Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks, or First-fruits. This festival also celebrates the giving of the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai, which we know as the Ten Commandments. There were offerings made of the first-fruits of the Harvest at the Temple in Jerusalem. Shavuot was one of the highlights of the year, and one of the great pilgrim festivals. People would travel from all over the Mediterranean World to Jerusalem to worship together. So the fact that the Apostles preach the Good News to:

‘Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians’ (Acts 2:9-11)

makes a great deal of sense. Pentecost was an international event. In Genesis 11:1-9 we see the division of humanity after the building of the Tower of Babel. In contrast, suddenly, the division of language is removed and the words of the apostles (who were used to speaking in Greek or Aramaic) could be understood by people of many diverse tongues. Now humanity is united in Christ through the gift of the Holy Spirit. That which was divided has been reconciled.

Today’s Gospel takes us back to St John’s account of Jesus’ appearance to the disciples at Easter. The disciples are afraid: they fear being lynched by a mob for following Our Lord. And suddenly, into the midst of this place of fear and apprehension comes their Saviour:

Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” (Jn 20: 19)

Christ’s gift to His disciples is peace, tangnefedd, the Peace of God, a peace which passes all human understanding. This is something that we all long for in the deepest core of our being, in our soul. For ourselves, for our families, and for our world, God gives us what we truly desire more than anything, except Him. This cannot be bought or earned, it comes as a gift, freely given to those who believe in the Lord. 

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. (Jn 20:20)

Jesus shows the disciples the wounds of love in His hands and side. His wounds show them who He is, and that He is alive, and that these wounds are the reason that we can have peace. Because of Christ’s death on the Cross, we have access to the internal tranquility we long for. Our Lord’s presence brings not only peace, but also joy. The disciples are glad. Christ gladdens our hearts in a variety of ways: by the gift of the Holy Spirit, and by the gift of Himself in Holy Communion. When we feed on Him, we become what He is, which brings us peace and joy. 

Having revealed Himself to His disciples, and having filled them with joy and peace, Our Lord commissions the Apostles. They are sent out to proclaim the Kingdom of God:

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” (Jn 20: 21)

God the Father sends the Son to announce the Kingdom and to invite people to ‘Repent and believe the Good News’. The disciples are similarly sent out to call people to ‘Repent and believe the Good News’. At this point they become Apostles, from the Greek word apostolos meaning ‘someone sent out’. They are now given a prophetic role, proclaiming who Christ is, and what He has done, for love of us. Hand in hand with this task goes a ministry of reconciliation, healing wounded souls, restoring what sin has broken:

And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” (Jn 20:22-23)

The Father sends the Son into the world to heal it, to reconcile humanity to itself and to the Divine. In St John’s account, Easter and Pentecost become a single moment, stressing their intimate connection. Christ dies for us, is raised from the dead, and sends the Holy Spirit, so that humanity can be offered life in all its fullness, forever. At this point in the Christian year we focus on how God wants us to love Him and each other. Love is who God is, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We see God’s love in the entirety of Jesus’ Life, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension. All that Jesus is and does is a demonstration, a manifestation of God’s love for us. God longs to give us His love, so that it can transform us into His likeness, the likeness in which we were created, in order that we might become children of God and heirs, to our inheritance of Heaven.

On the day of Pentecost something wonderful takes place: The Good News is proclaimed in a host of different languages. The Acts of the Apostles records how the people gathered in Jerusalem are amazed to hear the Good News spoken in their own language. Not just that, but by a rag-tag assortment of Galilean fishermen and other ordinary folk. It is incredible! It is miraculous! Pentecost points towards our present reality, where there is not a country on this earth which has not heard the Good News of Jesus Christ. However, there is still work to be done. We are the successors of the apostles, the ordinary people who tell others about Jesus — who He is, what He does, and why it matters. Each and every one of us in our baptism are made Christ-like, and empowered by the Holy Spirit to share our faith.

So, my brothers and sisters in Christ, let us pray earnestly for the gift of the Spirit, that God may fill us with His love and equip us to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom. May we encourage others to come to know, love, and worship God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Duw Dad, Duw y Mab, a Duw yr Ysbryd Glân. To whom be ascribed all glory, dominion, and power, now and forever. Amen.

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Homily for Trinity XX: Seeking Treasure in Heaven

In 1963 the Beatles released a version of the song ‘Money’ which was first recorded by Barret Strong in 1959 as a single on the Tamla label. This same song later became a hit for by the Flying Lizards in 1979. The lyrics begin:

‘The best things in life are free / But you can keep ‘em for the birds and bees / Now gimme money, (that’s what I want)’ 

These words capture the mindset of modern humanity perfectly. We live in a world which values wealth above all things. Such a worldview is completely opposed to Christianity. We have to take a stand against it, because it is wrong. It is deeply damaging to humanity in particular and society in general.

Today’s Gospel is a vivid picture of the problem of human nature. As Our Lord is about to set out on a journey a man stops Him and asks: 

‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’

‘Athro da, beth a wnaf i etifeddu bywyd tragwyddol?’ (Mk 10:17)

Jesus replies:

“Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honour your father and mother.’” 

“Pam yr wyt yn fy ngalw i yn dda? Nid oes neb da ond un, sef Duw. Gwyddost y gorchmynion: ‘Na ladd, na odineba, na ladrata, na chamdystiolaetha, na chamgolleda, anrhydedda dy dad a’th fam.’” (Mk 10:18-19)

Our Lord’s reply is both self-deprecating and stresses duty towards one’s neighbour. Our faith is something which we live out in our lives. The man has done this. At which point the conversation develops.

‘And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.’

‘Edrychodd Iesu arno ac fe’i hoffodd, a dywedodd wrtho, “Un peth sy’n eisiau ynot; dos, gwerth y cwbl sydd gennyt a dyro i’r tlodion, a chei drysor yn y nef; a thyrd, canlyn fi.” Cymylodd ei wedd ar y gair, ac aeth ymaith yn drist, oherwydd yr oedd yn berchen meddiannau lawer’ (Mk 10:21-22)

Before everything else, Jesus looks at the man and loves him. This is an encounter with a God who is love itself. God loves us, that is why He sent Jesus to be born among us, to live among us, to die for us, and rise again. It is the heart of our faith: God loves us. If I said nothing else this morning or ever after, know that you are loved by God, and let this love transform your life. Christ does, however, require much of the young man He is talking to. If we want to be truly rich in God’s eyes, then we need to give away our riches, and follow Jesus. However, like so much of Christ’s teaching this is something that is easy to say, but somewhat more difficult to do. The theory is definitely simpler than the practice.

Now is a time when we give thanks for the Harvest, we pause to thank God for His generosity towards us, in giving us food. We also thank our creator and sustainer for the wonders of His Creation — even the wind and the rain. Most of all for giving us His Son, Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, whom we receive in the Eucharist.

God is generous towards us, providing us with the things we need to live. He expects us to be generous in return. It isn’t that much to ask, is it? We are called to live generously, to be a generous Church, full of generous Christians. We are, but it is good to be reminded of the fact, even if it makes us a bit uncomfortable on times. That is ok. Following the Christian faith can, and should, challenge us. The comforting tradition of Harvest time should not prevent us from taking a hard look at the world. How we treat God’s world, whether we share our bread with the hungry, how we put our faith into action in society, and how we daily follow God’s will. These are all challenging things to do, and are areas in our lives where we can always improve.

The world around will tell us that we need to care about wealth, power, and stuff. That these are the way to be happy, to be powerful, and successful, and the way to gain respect, and value in the eyes of others and ourselves. That these are the means to happiness and respect is certainly a seductive proposition, and many are seduced by it, both within the church and outside. The temptation to be relevant, to give people what they want rather than what they need, to go along with the ways of the world. To be seduced by selfishness, self-interest, and sin. But we need to get some perspective: these things do not matter in the grand scheme of things. Wealth, power, and influence, are of no use to us when we are dead. They won’t help us when we stand before our maker. We cannot take possessions with us when we depart from this world, for there are no pockets in shrouds. Our worldly goods may benefit our immediate family and friends, but even that is no guarantee of anything in the long term. Would we not rather, when all is said and done, be remembered as kind, generous, loving people, quick to forgive, and seek forgiveness. Isn’t this a better way to be?

Let us then give thanks to God for all that He has done for us. Let us be generous, and loving, seeking to acquire the only thing worth having: not treasure on Earth, but treasure in Heaven. Meanwhile, let us sing the praises of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. To whom be ascribed all glory, dominion and power, now and forever. Amen.

James Tissot: The Rich Young Man Went Away Sorrowful (Le jeune homme riche s’en alla triste) [Brooklyn Museum]