Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.”
NL Daily Devotion for Sunday, May 24, 2026
by Dr. Kimberly Leetch, Clergy Stuff
Main Idea: The first Pentecost was an incredible event of unity in and under Christ.
Jerusalem was a capital that housed and hosted people from all over the land. They brought a variety of cultures and spoke different languages. They had gathered together in one place 50 days following Jesus’ resurrection and Christianity was being birthed. When a wind came and filled the house, all those gathered began to understand what was being preached about Christ, even though they spoke different languages. It was perplexing and wondrous.
A tale is told of a time early in humanity’s history when people started to become too prideful. They believed they could be just like God if they could build a tower high enough into the heavens to reach God. As punishment for their hubris, God jumbled their tongues and they scattered across the land unable to communicate, therefore unable to finish the tower. This was the Tower of Babel. The muddling of languages is a symbol of how the pridefulness of humanity led to division among the people.
It's fitting then, that the birthing of Christianity would be the place where the unity of humanity is represented by the melding of languages. Communication is the first key to the building of community.
Have you ever noticed that when a rich person speaks two or more languages they are considered cultured and well-traveled, but when a poor person speaks two or more languages, they are considered parasites? Let me be more clear. When a person of means enters the United States, for example, from Germany or France or Spain, speaking English with a thick accent, we consider them exotic. But when a person with little enters the United States from Central or South America speaking English with a thick accent, we consider them migrants preparing to be a drain on the American system.
This Pentecost might be a great opportunity to check our privilege. The melding of languages in this story is a sign that God has empowered us to communicate, and with communication comes understanding, then tolerance, then acceptance, and then love. Take a moment today to honor all those in your midst that come to worship with a different accent and celebrate that God has gifted your community this opportunity to move from basic communication to love.
