Pentecost Sunday ‘C’

Pentecost means “50th.” For Jews, it’s a feast celebrated 50 days after Passover. For Christians, Pentecost is celebrated 50 days after Jesus’s Resurrection (Easter).

On the first Christian Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came down upon the apostles and the Virgin Mary in the form of fiery tongues. Before this, the apostles were afraid and hiding, but after receiving the Holy Spirit, they became bold preachers. They were given the ability to speak in other languages. People from many different countries heard them speaking in their own languages, which was a miracle. Because of the Holy Spirit, the apostles and early Christians became strong in their faith and were even willing to die for it.

Pentecost is very important for Christians. It marks the end of the Easter season. It is also called the “birthday of the Church,” because the Holy Spirit’s coming gave the apostles the power to go out and spread Jesus’ message to the whole world. Pentecost reminds us that the Holy Spirit is a gift meant to be shared—it moves us to action and inspires us to help others.

The First Reading (Acts of the Apostles) describes the first Pentecost; the Holy Spirit transformed the apostles. They began speaking the Good News of Jesus in such a way that everyone, no matter their language, could understand. This miracle reversed what happened at the Tower of Babel in the Old Testament, when people were divided by different languages. Afterward, the Holy Spirit gave the early Christians courage, helping them stand strong, even during persecution.

In the Second Reading St. Paul explains that the Holy Spirit gives different gifts to different people - like teaching, healing, helping, or administration. All these gifts come from the same Spirit and are meant to be used to help others and build up the Christian community.

In the Gospel, Jesus, after his Resurrection, appeared to His apostles and gave them a preview of Pentecost by breathing on them and giving them the Holy Spirit. He told them to continue his mission and gave them the authority to forgive sins, which is linked with to the Sacrament of Confession. Jesus’s gift of the Spirit calls all Christians to love and forgive, rather than to judge and take revenge.

We should ask the Holy Spirit to help us pray, to listen to God by reading the Bible, and to serve others. The Holy Spirit helps us do good, encourages us to forgive, and brings us closer to God and to one another every day.