May 19, 2004, Pentecost Sunday, Mastering the Day.

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together.

And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind,

and it filled the entire house in which they were.

Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one

of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem.

At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused,

because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, are not all these people who are speaking

Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his native language? We are Parthians,

Meads and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia,

Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya

near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs.

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

The Word of the earth.

Lord send out your spirit and renew the face of the earth.

Bless the Lord, all my soul, O Lord my God, you are great indeed.

How manifold are your works, O Lord,

the earth is full of your creatures.

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