Resources, Prayers, Games, and Lesson Plans
More Thoughts and Reflection Questions
Mass Readings for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year A
- First Reading – Acts 8:5-8, 14-17: Philip goes to Samaria and preaches the word of God to the people, performing many miraculous signs and healings, which resulted in many people believing and being baptized. Peter and John arrive in Samaria and prayed for the new believers, laying their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
- Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 66: A psalm of praise to God, encouraging all people to shout joyfully, sing praises, and proclaim His glorious deeds. The psalmist recounts God's great works, including changing the sea into dry land and ruling by His might forever, and invites all who fear God to declare His goodness.
- Second Reading – 1 Peter 3:15-18: Peter instructs believers to always be ready to give a defense of their faith with gentleness and respect, even in the face of persecution. He then reminds them of the example of Christ, who suffered and died for our sins, but was raised to life by the power of God.
- Gospel - John 14:15-21: Jesus promises his disciples that if they love Him, they will keep His commandments, and He will ask the Father to send them the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to be with them forever. He also promises that He will come to them and reveal Himself to them, and whoever loves Him and keeps His word will be loved by the Father, and they will dwell with Him.
Themes for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year A
The readings for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year A remind us that God is always with us and always caring for us, no matter where we are or what the circumstance. The first reading tells of how Peter and John went from Jerusalem to Samaria to pray with the people there and call down the Holy Spirit on them. The psalm is our response to God’s loving care for us. The second reading tells us that Christ suffered for all of us, righteous and sinners alike. And in the gospel, Jesus tells us that he has not abandoned us. He has sent the Holy Spirit to be with us always.
- Evangelism: The first reading for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year A emphasizes the importance of preaching the word of God to non-believers and the impact it can have on their lives, as many people in Samaria believed and were baptized. Christians must share the gospel with others, to be ambassadors of Christ to those who do not know Him.
- Belief, baptism, and receiving the Holy Spirit: The first reading also shows that true faith is accompanied by a desire to be obedient to God's commandments and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, which enables believers to live out their faith and grow in their relationship with God.
- Following Christ's commandments: Jesus stresses the importance of obedience to His commandments as a demonstration of our love for Him. The gospel highlights the fact that true faith is not just a matter of belief but also requires a commitment to living a life that is pleasing to God, following the example set by Jesus.
- Love for Christ: Both the gospel and the second reading for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year A emphasize the importance of love for Christ. In John, Jesus tells His disciples that those who love Him will keep His commandments, and in 1 Peter, the apostle urges believers to always be ready to defend their faith with gentleness and respect, out of love for Christ. Love is central to the Christian faith, as love for Christ should motivate and guide all of our actions and decisions.
- The promise of the Holy Spirit: Jesus promises His disciples that He will send them the Holy Spirit, who will be with them forever. The gospel emphasizes the importance of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer, as the Spirit guides and empowers us to live out our faith and remain connected to Christ.
See the Homilies and Reflections section and the More Thoughts section for further expansion on these readings and some reflection questions for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year A.
Resources for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year A
I Am With You Lesson Plan
This I Am With You lesson plan will help youth understand how the Holy Spirit helps us remember and live the teachings of Jesus. Use this for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year A.
The Holy Spirit Background Material
The Holy Spirit is one of the three persons of the Trinity and can be described as the love which flows between the Father and the Son. This love is so strong that it is a separate person of the Trinity. This will provide background for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year A.
Patient Trust Prayer of Teilhard de Chardin
This prayer is about waiting patiently for God. It is especially good for high school students and young adults who are discerning a vocation or possible career. We can be impatient about wanting an answer from God during the discernment process and this prayer is a good way to help trust that God will eventually show us where we are supposed to head.
Homilies and Reflections for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year A
Do You Love Jesus? (Jeff Cavins)
The Spirit on the March (Bishop Robert Barron)
Alive in the Spirit (Scott Hahn)
Five Signs of the Spirit (Bishop Robert Barron)
Give a Reason for the Hope That Is in You (Bishop Robert Barron)
Do You Love Jesus?
Jeff Cavins reflects on the Gospel for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year A and challenges us to ask ourselves if we truly love Jesus.
The Spirit on the March
A homily for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year A from Bishop Robert Barron. "Friends, this Easter season, the Church has asked us to meditate on the Acts of the Apostles. Today Jesus tells us to wait for the coming of the Spirit, which will descend upon them and empower them in their work. It is up to Christians today to continue the work of the apostles and spread the mission of Christ."
Alive in the Spirit
A reflection for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year A from Scott Hahn. "Jesus will not leave us alone. He won’t make us children of God in Baptism only to leave us “orphans,” He assures us in today’s Gospel. He asks the Father to give us His Spirit, to dwell with us and keep us united in the life He shares with the Father." Continue reading.
Five Signs of the Spirit
Another homily from Bishop Robert Barron for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year A. "As Pentecost approaches, the church gives us readings redolent of the Holy Spirit. Our passages for this Sunday speak in various ways of the presence of the Holy Spirit: bold speech, signs and wonders, joy, intellectual curiosity, and love."
Give a Reason for the Hope That Is in You
Another homily from Bishop Barron for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year A. “For this sixth Sunday of Easter, I would like to continue with the first letter of St. Peter, which is our second reading for this weekend. Peter says, 'Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.' In many ways, this is the master text for theologians and apologists up and down the centuries to the present day. Something that is distinctive to biblical Christianity is that, from the beginning, it has been very interested in doctrine and expressing doctrine clearly and articulately."
More Thoughts for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year A
Finding Comfort and Strength
In the gospel for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year A, Jesus speaks to his disciples about the coming of the Holy Spirit. He tells them that he will ask the Father to send them another Advocate, the Spirit of truth, who will be with them forever. This Advocate will teach them all things and remind them of everything Jesus has said to them.
As Catholics, we believe in the Holy Trinity - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, and it is through the Holy Spirit that we receive the grace and strength to live our lives according to God's will.
Jesus' promise of the Holy Spirit is a great source of comfort and hope for us as Catholics. The Holy Spirit is not just an abstract concept, but a real and present force in our lives. When we receive the Sacraments, particularly Baptism and Confirmation, we are filled with the Holy Spirit and become part of the Body of Christ.
Finally, Jesus tells his disciples that he will not leave them as orphans, but will come to them. This is a powerful reminder that even when we feel alone or abandoned, God is always with us. Through the Holy Spirit, we are connected to God and to one another as members of the Body of Christ.
We Are Not Evangelizing Alone
As we continue to reflect on the readings for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year A, we are reminded of the profound gift that Jesus has given us in the Holy Spirit. Even though Jesus is no longer with us physically, he has not left us on our own. Through the Holy Spirit, we are not alone. In fact, we are invited into the very life of the Trinity - a life of communion and love.
Jesus speaks of the coming of the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in his name. This Spirit will teach us everything and remind us of all that Jesus has said to us. Through the Holy Spirit, we are given the wisdom and strength to understand and live out the Gospel message. We are empowered to be witnesses to Christ in the world.
This is beautifully illustrated in the early Christian community, which is completely driven by the Holy Spirit. The apostles preached the Good News with such power that many were baptized. The Holy Spirit acted through them, inspiring them to boldly proclaim the Gospel and perform miraculous signs and wonders. When the apostles laid hands on the newly baptized, they too received the Holy Spirit.
As we reflect on these passages, we are reminded that evangelization is not something we can do on our own. We need to let the Holy Spirit act through us. When we share the Good News with others, we must do so with a deep awareness of the Holy Spirit's presence and guidance. We must be open to the Spirit's promptings, allowing him to use us as instruments of his grace and love.
Ultimately, the love we express for each other is the love of the Spirit. It is through the Holy Spirit that we are drawn into the life of the Trinity, and it is through the Holy Spirit that we are able to love one another as Christ has loved us. May we always be open to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and may we be bold witnesses to Christ in the world.
Reflection Questions for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year A
- What is my relationship with the Holy Spirit? Do I actively seek the Holy Spirit in my life, or do I tend to overlook this important aspect of my faith?
- Can I think of a time when I felt empowered by the Spirit? What was the situation, and how did the Holy Spirit help me through it?
- How do I make space for the Holy Spirit in my daily life? Do I take time to pray and listen for the Spirit's guidance?
- Where do I see the Holy Spirit at work in my community? How do I see the Spirit inspiring and guiding others in their faith journey?
- How can I be more open to the Holy Spirit's presence and action in my life? What practical steps can I take to cultivate a deeper relationship with the Spirit?
- In what areas of my life do I need the Holy Spirit's guidance and strength? How can I invite the Spirit to help me in these areas?
- How can I be a better witness to Christ by allowing the Holy Spirit to work through me? What specific actions can I take to share the Gospel message with others in a way that is guided by the Spirit?
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