Lord Send Out Your Spirit: Reflections on the Readings for Pentecost Sunday, Mass During the Day, Cycle C

Acts 2:1-11
Psalm 104
1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13 or Romans 8:8-17
John 20:19-23 or John 14:15-16, 23b-26

The incarnation of Jesus was the fulfillment of the promise of the Old Testament, the coming of the Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of the promise of Jesus. The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us, “By his coming, which never ceases, the Holy Spirit causes the world to enter into the “last days,” the time of the Church, the Kingdom, already inherited, though not yet consummated.” (CCC 732)

The basic readings for Pentecost are the same each except that Years B and C have optional second readings as well as an option for a different reading from the Gospel of John.

Having just elected a new pope, the workings of the Holy Spirit are especially prominent this year (2025). Many prayers were said that the cardinals would listen to the Holy Spirit as they voted in the conclave. Now we pray that Pope Leo XIV will be guided by the Spirit as Jesus’ earthly shepherd of the Church.

As you would expect, the first reading from Acts of the Apostles is the description of the coming of the Holy Spirit: “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.” Recall Genesis 1:2 (for those of you who don’t think the Trinity is part of the Old Testament), “and the earth was without form or shape, with darkness over the abyss and a mighty wind sweeping over the waters.” The previous chapter of Acts notes that the company (of believers) numbered about one hundred and twenty and included the eleven as well as Mary, the mother of Jesus (who is sometimes referrred to as the "spouse of the Holy Spirit"). (Acts 1:13-15)

After this, the Apostles, and most notably Peter, who had sequestered themselves in the upper room, began to speak boldly of the glory of God. As a kind of reversal of the story of the Tower of Babel, when God confused mankind by imposing different languages upon them because of their pride (Genesis 11:1-9), here the Spirit gives the apostles the ability to speak in the languages of those “devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem.” "Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his native language?” Bishop Sheen, in Life of Christ, notes that Galileans were generally looked down upon as members of a lower class, giving better understanding to the incredulity of those hearing the apostles.

It is worth the time it takes to read Peter’s speech to the crowd as he tells them of Jesus’ death and Resurrection, the Apostles’ witness to it, that Jesus was truly the Messiah, and sits at the right hand of God. He also tells of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, that this was prophesied by David (and Joel), and he alludes to the second coming of Jesus.

Peter’s speech, with the power of the Holy Spirit resulted in the baptism (conversion) of about three thousand persons that day.

The responsorial psalm includes the words of one of the great prayers to the Holy Spirit: “Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.” It expounds the glory of the Lord as manifest through His works, His creation. It also reminds us of our dependence upon the Lord: “If you take away their breath, they perish and return to their dust.”

Let us pray to the Holy Spirit that He may come and renew our lives, as we are called to daily conversion: “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire or Your love.”

The reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians is shortened, probably in the interest of time, but what was left out is an important part of learning our faith. In the gap we learn of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and a brief reference to their purpose. A reminder that we should read the entire section as we prepare for mass.

One focus of this reading is unity. Pope Leo XIV has also expressed the importance of unity, and it is a part of his motto and coat of arms. Like the discussion of the many gifts of the Spirit, Paul reminds us, “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.” It is Christ and His Church, through the Holy Spirit that unites us and makes us one, even though, individually, we may differ significantly.

Similarly, the alternate second reading from Romans also addresses the theme of unity. Paul talks about being dead to the flesh because, through baptism, we are reborn in the Spirit, the Spirit of righteousness. This is part of our salvation through Jesus who frees us from our slavery to sin. And this Spirit is the Spirit of adoption, allowing us to call God our Father (as Jesus taught the apostles to pray), thus making us heirs and brothers to Our Lord. “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs.” There is one caveat though, that many don’t want to hear or refuse to hear, that we become “joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him.” In other words, our suffering in this life joins us with the suffering of Jesus.

The main gospel reading from John chapter 20 is sometimes referred to as John’s Pentecost. In it Jesus breathes on the disciples and tells them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.” Additionally, Jesus also gives them the ability to forgive sins: “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." Note well that this also gives them the ability to withhold forgiveness. I’m sure many pro-abortion politicians don’t consider this otherwise they might not be so eager to pursue the culture of death.

The alternate gospel reading is Jesus promising that the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, will be sent from the Father to teach and remind them of all that Jesus taught. He reminds them of the condition required to receive the Spirit: “"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.” This is the same condition Jesus always asks of His followers. It is also the same condition the Father asked of the tribes of Israel throughout the Old Testament; obedience to God’s will. Like them, we all have difficulties maintaining total obedience but, thanks to Jesus’ “ordaining” the apostles (as in the first gospel choice) we now have forgiveness of our sins through the salvation of Our Lord Jesus Christ and His instruments on earth, our priests.

The coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost is when the apostles and disciples truly began to understand the mission that Jesus was sending them on. The same is true for us. We all have a mission, a purpose, in life. I am reminded of the words of St. John Henry Newman: “I am created to do something or to be something for which no one else is created. I have a place in God’s counsels, in God’s world, which no one else has. Whether I be rich or poor, despised or esteemed by man, God knows me and calls me by my name. God has created me to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission – I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. Somehow I am necessary for His purposes, as necessary in my place as an archangel in his …” (Everyday Meditations)

Do not ignore the Holy Spirit. Through the Church, your conscience, Scripture, and Tradition, He will guide you if you will let Him. It does take some effort on your part; you must have an open heart and an open mind and be willing to pursue your Faith.