Sunday Mass Readings and Questionsfor Self-Reflection, Couples or Family Discussion

Pentecost Sunday – Sunday, May 23rd, 2021The First Reading- 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."Reflection It’s Pentecost—the birthday of the Church! We say this because it’s the day that the Apostles received the Holy Spirit and finally were emboldened to live the mission that Jesus had given them. It’s also Babel undone—where we put up barriers of communication through our sin, Jesus removes those barriers through his sacrifice. We are a Church of mission and a people of hope. It belongs to each of us that we should share the Gospel in every language for every hearer—so what does that mean? Preach the Gospel in the language of children, of the aged, the homebound, the struggling family, the widow, the newlyweds, the divorced, the abused, the addicted, your co-workers, your teammates, the poor, your friends, the disenfranchised. You have been given a unique language that no one else can speak—the language of your experience, your grief, your success, your insecurity, your parenthood, your creativity, your art, your music, your writing.Adults - What concrete efforts are you making to speak and spread the Gospel?Teens - What “language,” or gift, has God given you to use to help others? Who do you know who is in need of those particular gifts?Kids - What do you think is the best way to celebrate the birthday of the Church?Responsorial- Psalm 104: 1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.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.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.If you take away their breath, they perishand 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.

Reflection -How do you work to be open to the Holy Spirit in your life?

Sunday Mass Readings and Questionsfor Self-Reflection, Couples or Family Discussion

Pentecost Sunday – Sunday, May 23rd, 2021The Second Reading- 1Cor 12: 3B-7, 12-13Brothers 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. ReflectionWe have “different gifts, but the same Spirit.” And we are called to bring that spirit of unity, of belonging, of being loved and cherished to people who feel alone and unloved. You don’t have to look very far to find someone like that. Our world is broken and hurting and needs Good News. Our world is angry and needs reconciliation that only a relationship with God in a loving community can bring. Each of us has a language in which to speak it to bring healing, and each of us has people who only we can reach. We have received the same Spirit, and we are emboldened to live that same mission that the Apostles were given. Jesus gifted us the peace we need and the courage; and as the Father sent him, so he sends us. You are chosen. Be bold. -What gifts is the Holy Spirit directing me to be bold with?

The Holy Gospel according to 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."Reflection

God had sent Jesus to forgive sins, and after his resurrection we see Jesus telling the apostles, "‘As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’” This is one of only two times we are told that God breathed on man, the other being in Genesis 2:7, when he made man a living soul. It emphasizes how important the establishment of the sacrament of penance is. Just as the apostles were to carry Christ’s message to the whole world, so they were to carry his forgiveness - in Matt. 18:18 "Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." The power comes from Jesus, but is administered through His Church and His ministers. Adults - How do I experience God’s peace so that I can share it with others? How am I an agent for reconciliation?Teens - What does God’s peace mean to you? How do you take time to rest in the peace of God?Kids - Try to think of one moment each day this week that you feel the peace of God.

LIVING THE WORD OF GOD THIS WEEK! – “One final question: why the miracle of tongues? In answer, recall the story regarding the tower of Babel. Puffed up by pride, men attempted to build a tower that would touch the heavens. To punish their sin, God confused their speech. Sin causes confusion and division. Now Christ came to gather all men into His

Sunday Mass Readings and Questionsfor Self-Reflection, Couples or Family Discussion

Pentecost Sunday – Sunday, May 23rd, 2021Church and thereby to unite them to Himself. This should result in creating but one family of nations again. To this blessed state the miracle of tongues points.

Yes, even we as individuals have a gift of tongues which all men can understand. It is the gift of love infused into us by the Holy Spirit. Love unites, love is a common language, by means of love we can speak to all nations.” -Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch