Pentecost Sunday

(Mass during the Day)
 
Solemnity of Pentecost at the Vigil
 
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 the 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.
 
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 final strophe recognizes the third person of God and asks for the blessing of the Holy Spirit. The psalmist recognizes the Holy Spirit as 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: Romans 8:8-17
 
Brothers and sisters:
Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
But you are not in the flesh;
on the contrary, you are in the spirit,
if only the Spirit of God dwells in you.
Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
But if Christ is in you,
although the body is dead because of sin,
the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you,
the one who raised Christ from the dead
will give life to your mortal bodies also,
through his Spirit that dwells in you.
Consequently, brothers and sisters,
we are not debtors to the flesh,
to live according to the flesh.
For if you live according to the flesh, you will die,
but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body,
you will live.
 
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear,
but you received a Spirit of adoption,
through whom we cry, “Abba, Father!”
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit
that we are children of God,
and if children, then heirs,
heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ,
if only we suffer with him
so that we may also be glorified with him.
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Commentary on Rom 8:8-17
 
St. Paul focuses on the Holy Spirit indwelling as a consequence of baptism. The Holy Spirit once received overrules the flesh and the faithful become one in Christ. Christians, by reason of the Spirit's presence within them, enjoy not only new life but also a new relationship to God, that of adopted children and heirs through Christ, whose sufferings and glory they share.
 
CCC: Rom 8:9 693; Rom 8:11 632, 658, 693, 695, 989, 990
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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 14:15-16, 23b-26
 
Jesus said to his disciples:
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
And I will ask the Father,
and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always.
 
“Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.
Those who do not love me do not keep my words;
yet the word you hear is not mine
but that of the Father who sent me.
 
“I have told you this while I am with you.
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you everything
and remind you of all that I told you.”
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Commentary on Jn 14:15-16, 23b-26
 
The farewell speech of the Lord continues with the promise of the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete. We note he says, “another Advocate.” Jesus himself is the first advocate (in St. John’s Gospel the term used synonymously with spokesman, mediator, intercessor, comforter, and consoler). Jesus says this gift is: “The Spirit of truth.” (From the Qumran or Dead Sea Scrolls- a moral force put into a person by God.) This promise is made because the disciples are becoming worried and are afraid of being left without Jesus’ guidance. In addition to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, he leaves his peace, not just the greeting “Shalom,” but an inner peace that conquers fear.
 
 After Jesus has promised to send the Holy Spirit (the new Advocate – the Paraclete), he reinforces that promise with a summation of his great commandment. The Lord then completes our understanding of the Holy Trinity with: “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name--he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.” The Father and the Son are one and, in the name of the Son, the Holy Spirit now remains with us.
 
"The word translated here is 'bring to your remembrance' also includes the idea of 'suggesting': the Holy Spirit will recall to the Apostles' memory what they have already heard Jesus say and he will give them light to enable them to discover the depth and richness of everything they have seen and heard.  Thus, 'the Apostles handed on to their hearers what he had said and done, but, with that fuller understanding which they instructed by the glorious events of Christ (cf. John 2:33) and enlightened by the Spirit of truth, now enjoyed' (Vatican II, Dei Verbum, 19)." [6]
 
CCC: Jn 14:16-17 729, 2615; Jn 14:16 692; Jn 14:17 243, 687, 2466, 2671; Jn 14:18 788; Jn 14:22 647; Jn 14:23-26 2615; Jn 14:23 260; Jn 14:26 243, 244, 263, 692, 729, 1099, 2466, 2623
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Reflection:
 
As so often happens when we begin to reflect upon some spiritual subject and begin to ask the deep and difficult questions, we discover that an ancient saint has asked the same questions and has answered profoundly.  Such is the case with the question we must ask at Pentecost.  How does the Holy Spirit affect us, not just as individuals, but as Church?  Rather than a deacon’s ruminations, we offer you the words of a Saint:
 
“When the Lord told his disciples to go and teach all nations and to baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, he conferred on them the power of giving men new life in God.
 
“He had promised through the prophets that in these last days he would pour out his Spirit on his servants and handmaids, and that they would prophesy. So, when the Son of God became the Son of Man, the Spirit also descended upon him, becoming accustomed in this way
to dwelling with the human race, to living in men and to inhabiting God's creation. The Spirit accomplished the Father's will in men who had grown old in sin and gave them new life in Christ.
 
“Luke says that the Spirit came down on the disciples at Pentecost, after the Lord's ascension, with power to open the gates of life to all nations and to make known to them the new covenant. So it was that men of every language joined in singing one song of praise to God, and scattered tribes, restored to unity by the Spirit, were offered to the Father as the first-fruits of all the nations.
 
“This was why the Lord had promised to send the Advocate: he was to prepare us as an offering to God. Like dry flour, which cannot become one lump of dough, one loaf of bread, without moisture, we who are many could not become one in Christ Jesus without the water that comes down from heaven. And like parched ground, which yields no harvest unless it receives moisture, we who were once like a waterless tree could never have lived and borne fruit without this abundant rainfall from above. Through the baptism that liberates us from change and decay we have become one in body; through the Spirit we have become one in soul.
 
“The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of God came down upon the Lord, and the Lord in turn gave this Spirit to his Church, sending the Advocate from heaven into all the world into which, according to his own words, the devil too had been cast down like lightning.
 
“If we are not to be scorched and made unfruitful, we need the dew of God. Since we have our accuser, we need an Advocate as well. And so the Lord in his pity for man, who had fallen into the hands of brigands, having himself bound up his wounds and left for his care two coins bearing the royal image, entrusted him to the Holy Spirit. Now, through the Spirit, the image and inscription of the Father and the Son have been given to us, and it is our duty to use the coin committed to our charge and make it yield a rich profit for the Lord.” [7]
 
From the Treatise Against Heresies by St. Irenaeus, Bishop
(Lib.3, 17, 1-3:SC 34, 302-306).
 
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.
[6] The Navarre Bible, “Gospels and Acts”, Scepter Publishers, Princeton, NJ, © 2002, p.660.
[7] Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York, 1976, Copyright © 1970, 1973, 1975, International Committee on English in Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Liturgy of the Hours,  Vol. III, p. 1025.