Pentecost Sunday
Sunday, 21 May, 2022

First Reading: Acts 2:1-11 

Psalm #104    R: Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.  

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13

Gospel Acclamation Verse: Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love. Alleluia 

Gospel: John 20:19-23

Theme:  Pentecost - The Birthday of the Church - The Holy Spirit Stirring Within Us

Commentary: By Jane Prini   

  Today is the day we celebrate the birthday of the Church. We call this day Pentecost; the day the Church really got it’s start. It is a day we remember that God sent the Holy Spirit to His people just as Jesus had promised them. When the Apostles received the Holy Spirit, huddled together in that upper room, they were filled with joy, were no longer afraid and wanted everyone who would listen know about Jesus. They found courage to tell everyone that by Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can now talk to God directly, that Jesus was the way to God the Father. Jesus gave them, and us, a mission to tell others about him and to tell others how much God loves each one of us.

Let's imagine a way to remember what happened in the Church on the day of Pentecost, and how the Holy Spirit is at work in the Church today.  At our Baptism and Confirmation, Christians are filled and sealed with the Holy Spirit. This is very special. The Third Person of the Trinity, living within us. We may not have really noticed that the Holy Spirit has come to live in our souls. How can we get to know the Holy Spirit and experience him?
Let's consider all human beings as glasses of milk, and the Holy Spirit as chocolate syrup. Let's say that at Baptism and Confirmation, Christians receive a squirt of chocolate syrup. That’s a good start, but we all know that if it is not stirred it will settle at the bottom of the glass of milk and will not taste chocolaty. It is the same with the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit is not stirred up in us, we will not take on his flavour - it will not show in the way we act and the good choices we make. We will not be a good example of a disciple of Jesus, if we do not continue to let the Holy Spirit fill us. 

But how does the syrup get stirred so it’s flavour blends into the milk? Put another way; how does the Holy Spirt get stirred up in each one of his disciples, in us? God is the one who stirs up the Holy Spirit in us. Our part in cooperating with God, is to be willing to be stirred up by receiving the gifts he wants to give us. We are given these gifts as special helps and signs that the Holy Spirit is active in our lives, and to serve and help others. 

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are: wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength (or fortitude), knowledge, piety (or reverence) and fear of the Lord (which is a strange way of saying WOW what a wonderful God we have!). Just like on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit gave the early Church the gifts of forgiveness, truth and a new life, we still receive these gifts today. He leads us to the truth and teaches us to live a better way of life.

Prayer for Families: Heavenly Father, we thank you for sending your Holy Spirit. Help us to remember to give the Holy Spirit permission to stir in us your power as He did on the day of Pentecost. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

CLICK,  MUCH,MUCH, MORE FOR FAMILY RESOURCES, Colouring Page, Cross Word Puzzle and Word Search
 

CLICK HERE, THERE IS MUCH, MUCH MORE FOR FAMIY RESOURCES