(Unsplash/Eric Prouzet)
by Mary Nzilani Wambua
Editor's note: Welcome to Theologians' Corner, where each week a different woman theologian from around the world offers a fresh reflection on the Sunday readings.
Pentecost Sunday
May 24, 2026
Today we celebrate the great feast of Pentecost, the day the church was born in power. Fifty days after the Resurrection, the disciples who had been fearful and uncertain were transformed into bold witnesses. The doors that had been locked were thrown open. The silence of fear was replaced with the fire of proclamation.
Pentecost is not simply a past event. It is the living reality of the church today. In the first reading from Acts 2:1-11, we hear of wind and fire. The Spirit descends as tongues of flame resting upon each of the disciples. Fire in Scripture purifies, illuminates and enkindles passion. In this reading, we hear about frightened disciples gathered behind closed doors. They are uncertain, hesitant, even afraid.
Then suddenly, everything changes: a sound like a strong wind, tongues as of fire, and they begin to speak in different languages. What was closed becomes open. What was fearful becomes bold. What was divided becomes united. The disciples did not receive better strategies or more resources, they received the Holy Spirit and that made all the difference.
Sometimes, we often think we need more control over our lives, more certainty about the future, more clarity before we act. But Pentecost reminds us that God does not wait for us to have everything figured out. Instead, he gives us his Spirit in the middle of our confusion.
A question remains — where in your life are you still "behind closed doors"? What fears are holding you back from living fully as a Christian? The Holy Spirit is not given to make us comfortable, but to make us courageous.
We again see a powerful sign of Pentecost in language where people from many nations hear the apostles speaking and each one understands. This is not just about communication. It's about communion. It tells us that the Spirit does not erase differences. Instead, he makes unity possible within diversity.
This is applicable today in our world where division is everywhere. We talk of tribalism, politics, social tension, even divisions within families and churches. Pentecost challenges us to ask ourselves: Are we contributing to division, or are we instruments of unity?
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In the Gospel (John 20:19-23), the disciples are gathered behind locked doors. They are afraid. Perhaps fear of failure, of rejection, of the future, but Jesus comes into the midst of their fear and says, "Peace be with you." Then he breathes on them and gives them the Holy Spirit.
Perhaps some of us are in the same situation — feeling spiritually tired, not strong in faith and dry in prayer. It is the Spirit who fills what is empty and sends us on a mission, reminding us that Christianity is not meant to be passive, it is not just about attending church, it is about becoming witnesses. It is here we need to use our gifts given to us for they are for building up others.
And so, we may ask ourselves, am I allowing the Holy Spirit to work through me? This question reminds us that the disciples did not receive the Spirit just for their own comfort, but immediately they were sent out. This is emphasized in the Gospel where Jesus says: "As the Father has sent me, so I send you." The Holy Spirit gives the disciples a mission, the ministry of reconciliation: "Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them."
This reminds us that we are sent to bring peace where there is conflict, forgiveness where there is hurt, and hope where there is despair. We ask ourselves: Where is God sending me? In my family? My workplace? My community?
As Christians, we are not meant to stay inside church walls. Pentecost pushes us outward. Thus, we need to pray for God's grace, and the Psalmist gives us a powerful prayer: "Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth." God works through us to renew what is broken. But we need to remember that the renewal of the world begins with the renewal of hearts. Thus, a need to be renewed first to be able to renew others.
Pentecost is not just a past event; it is a present reality. This is because the same Spirit that filled the apostles is given to me and to you today. The same Spirit that gave courage, unity and purpose to them is alive today.
We need not to remain behind closed doors, not hide our gifts and not be afraid to be witnesses. With this in mind, we shall renew the earth.
