Pentecost Sunday
First Reading — Acts 2:1–11
When Pentecost day came round, they had all met in one room, when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them.
They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech.
Now there were devout men living in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven, and at this sound they all assembled, each one bewildered to hear these men speaking his own language. They were amazed and astonished.
‘Surely,’ they said, ‘all these men speaking are Galileans? How does it happen that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; people from Mesopotamia, Judaea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya round Cyrene; as well as visitors from Rome – Jews and proselytes alike – Cretans and Arabs; we hear them preaching in our own language about the marvels of God.’
Responsorial Psalm — Psalm 103(104):1,24,29–31,34
Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
or
Alleluia.
Bless the Lord, my soul!
Lord God, how great you are,
How many are your works, O Lord!
The earth is full of your riches.
Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
or
Alleluia.
You take back your spirit, they die,
returning to the dust from which they came.
You send forth your spirit, they are created;
and you renew the face of the earth.
Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
or
Alleluia.
May the glory of the Lord last for ever!
May the Lord rejoice in his works!
May my thoughts be pleasing to him.
I find my joy in the Lord.
Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
or
Alleluia.
Second Reading — 1 Corinthians 12:3–7,12–13
No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord’ unless he is under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
There is a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit; there are all sorts of service to be done, but always to the same Lord; working in all sorts of different ways in different people, it is the same God who is working in all of them. The particular way in which the Spirit is given to each person is for a good purpose.
Just as a human body, though it is made up of many parts, is a single unit because all these parts, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptised, Jews as well as Greeks, slaves as well as citizens, and one Spirit was given to us all to drink.
Sequence — Veni, Sancte Spiritus
Holy Spirit, Lord of Light,
From the clear celestial height
Thy pure beaming radiance give.
Come, thou Father of the poor,
Come with treasures which endure;
Come, thou light of all that live!
Thou, of all consolers best,
Thou, the soul’s delightful guest,
Dost refreshing peace bestow.
Thou in toil art comfort sweet;
Pleasant coolness in the heat;
Solace in the midst of woe.
Light immortal, light divine,
Visit thou these hearts of thine,
And our inmost being fill.
If thou take thy grace away,
Nothing pure in man will stay;
All his good is turned to ill.
Heal our wounds, our strength renew;
On our dryness pour thy dew;
Wash the stains of guilt away.
Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
Guide the steps that go astray.
Thou, on us who evermore
Thee confess and thee adore,
With thy sevenfold gifts descend.
Give us comfort when we die;
Give us life with thee on high;
Give us joys that never end.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia!
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.
Alleluia!
Gospel — John 20:19–23
In the evening of the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews.
Jesus came and stood among them.
He said to them, ‘Peace be with you,’ and showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you.
‘As the Father sent me,
so am I sending you.’
After saying this he breathed on them and said:
‘Receive the Holy Spirit.
For those whose sins you forgive,
they are forgiven;
for those whose sins you retain,
they are retained.’
Reflection
Today the Church celebrates one of the greatest solemnities of the liturgical year: Pentecost, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and the birth of the Church’s public mission.
Pentecost is the fulfilment of Christ’s promise. The disciples who once hid behind locked doors are transformed into bold witnesses. The same men who were fearful after the Crucifixion now proclaim the Gospel with courage before the nations. This transformation is not the result of human strength. It is the direct work of the Holy Spirit.
The first reading from Acts presents this dramatic moment with powerful signs: wind, fire, and speech. Wind recalls the breath of God that gave life at creation (Genesis 2:7). Fire represents God’s purifying and transforming presence. The gift of tongues reveals that the Gospel is universal. Where the Tower of Babel brought confusion and division, Pentecost brings unity through the Spirit.
The miracle is not merely that many languages are spoken, but that one Gospel is heard and understood by all. CCC 731 teaches that on Pentecost Christ’s Passover reaches fulfilment in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, manifesting the Church to the world.
The Responsorial Psalm proclaims: “Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.” This is not simply a prayer for the past. It is the prayer of the Church today. The world still needs renewal. Hearts still need conversion. Families, communities, and nations still need the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.
Saint Paul reminds us in the second reading that the Holy Spirit distributes many gifts, but always for one purpose: building up the Body of Christ. No Christian is without purpose. Each believer has received gifts to serve the Church and glorify God. CCC 799 explains that charisms are given for the common good and must be used in service and love.
The Gospel reveals the risen Jesus breathing his Spirit upon the disciples. This echoes God breathing life into Adam. A new creation begins. The Church is born not merely as an institution, but as a living body animated by the Spirit of God.
Jesus first gives peace, then mission, then the Spirit. This order matters. The Holy Spirit equips believers to carry Christ’s peace into a wounded world. Pentecost is not simply about personal spiritual experience. It is about being sent.
The Spirit gives courage to proclaim truth, wisdom to discern rightly, strength to persevere, and love to serve faithfully. The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit — wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord (CCC 1831) — remain active in the Church today.
Pentecost asks every believer an important question:
Are we living as Spirit-filled disciples, or are we still hiding behind locked doors?
The same Holy Spirit poured out upon the apostles is poured into every baptised believer. The Spirit still renews, strengthens, heals, and sends.
Today is an invitation to open our hearts fully and pray:
Come, Holy Spirit.
One line to carry today:
The Holy Spirit fills us not to stay hidden, but to be sent.
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