Pentecost Sunday (Mass during the Day)

Pentecost at the Vigil Mass

Catechism Links [1]
 
CCC 696, 726, 731-732, 737-741, 830, 1076, 1287, 2623: Pentecost
CCC 599, 597,674, 715: Apostolic witness on Pentecost
CCC 1152, 1226, 1302, 1556: The mystery of Pentecost continues in the Church
CCC 767, 775, 798, 796, 813, 1097, 1108-1109: The Church, communion in the Spirit

”Pentecost”
by Sir Anthony van Dyck, 1618-20

Readings for Pentecost Sunday [2]
 
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [3]
 
Readings and Commentary: [4]
 
Reading 1: Acts 2:1-11
 
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, Medes, 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."
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Commentary on Acts 2:1-11
 
“When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled” – the word in its Greek form means “fifty” so we understand this phrase to mean fifty days after Christ’s resurrection (Easter). An interesting coincidence is the Jewish Festival of Weeks (Harvest Festival “Shavuoth”) was also called Pentecost. Whether it was taken first by the Christians and later adopted by the Hellenistic Jews we do not know.

Those present (not just the disciples) heard a loud noise like the rushing of the wind. This signified a new action by God. Indeed we see a symbol of the Holy Spirit, a flame, descend upon the Apostles launching them into prayers of ecstasy that were heard by all present in their own language. This event can be interpreted as a representation of the universal mission of the Church to all peoples of all nations.

CCC: Acts 2:1-4 1287; Acts 2:1 2623; Acts 2:3-4 696; Acts 2:11 1287
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34
 
R. (cf. 30) Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
or:
R. Alleluia.
 
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!
How manifold are your works, O Lord!
the earth is full of your creatures;
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
 
May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
may the LORD be glad in his works!
Pleasing to him be my theme;
I will be glad in the LORD.
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
 
If you take away their breath, they perish
and return to their dust.
When you send forth your spirit, they are created,
and you renew the face of the earth.
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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Commentary on Ps 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34
 
In Psalm 104 we find a refrain that is the most popular hymn sung at Pentecost. The second strophe recognizes the third Person of God and asks for the blessing of the Holy Spirit. The psalmist recognizes the Holy Spirit is God since the creative effort of God is manifested by the Holy Spirit: "If you take away their breath, they perish and return to their dust. When you send forth your spirit, they are created."
 
CCC: Ps 104 288; Ps 104:24 295; Ps 104:30 292, 703
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Reading II: 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13
 
Brothers and sisters:
No one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit;
there are different forms of service but the same Lord;
there are different workings but the same God
who produces all of them in everyone.
To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit
is given for some benefit.
 
As a body is one though it has many parts,
and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body,
so also Christ.
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,
whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons,
and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.
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Commentary on 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13
 
In this letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul acknowledges the role of the Holy Spirit and the different gifts supplied to the members of the Mystical Body of Christ. At the same time he also proclaims the oneness of the triune God. The unity theme is carried finally to the people of God who are one in the Spirit and therefore one with God.
 
In v. 13 "[...] by one spirit: That is, by the divine action of the Spirit working in Baptism.  [...] one body: This is not simply a metaphor for the Church, with the focus on her organizational unity, but it expresses the metaphysical reality that every believer is truly united with Christ by the Sacraments (1 Corinthians 10:17; CCC 790). The Spirit is the soul of this mystical body, giving life, growth and direction to each of its members (CCC 797). [...] Jews or Greeks: Union with Christ makes ethnic and social distinctions irrelevant in the eyes of God (Galatians 3:28; CCC 1267). [...] to drink of one spirit: Baptism renews (Titus 3:5) and refreshes us through the Spirit (John 7:37-39), as does the spiritual drink of the Eucharist (1 Corinthians 10:4)." [5]
 
CCC: 1 Cor 12 1988, 2003; 1 Cor 12:3 152, 449, 455, 683, 2670, 2681; 1 Cor 12:4-6 249; 1 Cor 12:6 308; 1 Cor 12:7 801, 951; 1 Cor 12:13 694, 790, 798, 1227, 1267, 1396
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Or: Galatians 5:16-25
 
Brothers and sisters, live by the Spirit
and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh.
For the flesh has desires against the Spirit,
and the Spirit against the flesh;
these are opposed to each other,
so that you may not do what you want.
But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are obvious:
immorality, impurity, lust, idolatry,
sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy,
outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness,
dissensions, factions, occasions of envy,
drinking bouts, orgies, and the like.
I warn you, as I warned you before,
that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, generosity,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Against such there is no law.
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh
with its passions and desires.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.
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Commentary on Gal 5:16-25
 
St. Paul in this selection reminds the Galatians that with freedom in Christ comes a higher calling. He contrasts “works of the flesh” with “fruit of the Spirit,” providing a catalog of sins and of virtues. The evangelist gives the community a clear warning that those who follow the flesh will not inherit the Kingdom of God, but those who “belong to Christ Jesus” have experienced an inner conversion. Those “crucified in their flesh” are able to rise above worldly desires and live in the spirit.
 
"Those blessed fruits enumerated by the Apostle (Galatians 5:22) the Spirit produces and shows forth in the just, even in this mortal life--fruits replete with all sweetness and joy. Such must, indeed, be from the Spirit 'who in the Trinity is the love of the Father and the Son, filling all creatures with immeasurable sweetness' (St Augustine, "De Trinitate", 6, 9)" (Leo XIII, "Divinum illud munus", 12).
 
CCC: Gal 5 1454; Gal 5:16-25 2744, 2819; Gal 5:16 2515; Gal 5:17 2515; Gal 5:19-21 1470, 1852; Gal 5:20 2113; Gal 5:22-23 736; Gal 5:22-23 Vulg. 1832; Gal 5:22 1108, 1695, 2345; Gal 5:24 2515, 2543, 2555; Gal 5:25 736, 782, 1695, 2516, 2842, 2848
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Gospel: John 20:19-23
 
On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, "Peace be with you."
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you."
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
"Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained."
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Commentary on Jn 20:19-23
 
St. John gives us the picture of the disciples (now Apostles) in hiding immediately following the Lord’s crucifixion. Twice Jesus comes to them, once with Thomas absent, and then again when he is present.
 
There are a number of very important elements of this version of the story. First, the Lord’s greeting: “Peace be with you.” While this may have been a simple shalom, it is more likely intended to emphasize the rejoicing sense of the meeting. Immediately the Lord sends them on their mission: “As the Father has sent me, so I send you." As part of this action, we are told the Lord gives the gift of the Holy Spirit to strengthen them, and gives them authority to act in his name.
 
CCC: Jn 20:19 575, 643, 645, 659; Jn 20:20 645; Jn 20:21-23 1087, 1120, 1441; Jn 20:21 730, 858; Jn 20:22-23 976, 1485; Jn 20:22 730, 788, 1287; Jn 20:23 1461, 2839
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Or: John 15:26-27; 16:12-15
 
Jesus said to his disciples:
"When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father,
the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father,
he will testify to me.
And you also testify,
because you have been with me from the beginning.
 
"I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.
But when he comes, the Spirit of truth,
he will guide you to all truth.
He will not speak on his own,
but he will speak what he hears,
and will declare to you the things that are coming.
He will glorify me,
because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
Everything that the Father has is mine;
for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine
and declare it to you."
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Commentary on Jn 15:26-27; 16:12-15
 
Jesus’ farewell speech continues with the theme of the strength to be given in the “Advocate,” the “Spirit of truth,” the Holy Spirit (see commentary on John 14:15-21). His reference to the coming of the Holy Spirit is explained further and the unity of the Trinity comes into focus as the Lord tells his friends that this Advocate will give them what is also his (the Lord’s).
 
CCC: Jn 15:26 244, 248, 263, 692, 719, 729, 1433, 2671; Jn 16:13-15 2615; Jn 16:13 91, 243, 687, 692, 1117, 2466, 2671; Jn 16:14-15 485; Jn 16:14 244, 690
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Reflection:
 
The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, the Divine Advocate, is celebrated today. How great is our God that not only did he send his Only Begotten Son to reveal his great love for us, he sends us his guiding Holy Spirit to be our strength and compass.
 
It is the Holy Spirit that we look to for the daily miracles in our lives. It is the Holy Spirit that was given to us at our baptism, that gives us the ability to understand what God wants for us and from us. It is the Holy Spirit that is the glue of the great covenant sealed with the blood of Christ.
 
Today we, as Church, complete our Easter Celebration with this great feast that reminds us in John’s Gospel how the Lord himself sent the Divine Advocate to his living and mystical body, the Church, so that all we hold as bound on earth shall also be held bound in heaven. He gave his Holy Spirit first to the disciples. The infusion of grace provided by the Advocate allowed them to convey the Lord’s message of love and life, through our Heavenly Father, to all peoples of all nations. Through that Holy Spirit, he gives us a glimpse of Divine Wisdom that directs us.
 
Today we, as individuals, thank God for his gifts of love and mercy, communicated to us directly from the heavenly throne by the Holy Spirit. We recognize these gifts as we reflect on the bounty God has given us in our lives: gifts that start with the life we dedicate to his service, and all of the things we have been given since.
 
Today, the whole world holds its breath in wonder as the Church celebrates its own birth, and proclaims once more that the gift, guide and Advocate, left to us by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, is alive and well and living as the visible Body of the Risen Christ – the Church. Praise be to the triune God and all his marvelous deeds.
 
Pax

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[1] Catechism links are taken from the Homiletic Directory, published by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 29 June 2014.
[2] The picture used is”Pentecost” by Sir Anthony van Dyck, 1618-20.
[3]  S.S. Commemoratio
[4] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
[5] Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, © 2010, Ignatius Press, San Francisco, CA, p. 303.