Mass Readings for Pentecost Year A
- First reading – Acts 2:1-11: “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.”
- Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34: “Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.”.
- Second reading – 1 Corinthians 12:3B-7, 12-13: “To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.”
- Gospel – John 20:19-23: “He breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit.”
Themes for Pentecost Year A
So the Spirit is obviously the main focus for the Mass readings for Pentecost Year A. Empowered by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we go out to the world to preach the message of Jesus Christ. This is the birthday of The Church and is celebrated 50 days after Easter. It is the last day of the Easter season.
- The Holy Spirit
- Being empowered as disciples
- New life as Christians
- Evangelization
See the Homilies and Reflections section and the More Thoughts section for further expansion on these readings and some reflection questions for Pentecost Year A.
Resources for Pentecost Year A
Praise to God the Creator
This prayer is based on Psalm 104, which is one of the responsorial psalm choices for this Sunday.
Have a Birthday Party for the Church
Pentecost is, of course, the birthday of the Church. Introduce this idea at your youth ministry meeting by having a birthday party for the church. Then use the reflection questions to help your teens go deeper into the idea of how they are sent to share the good news, just like the disciples.
Inspired By You Letters (Youth Ministry Activity)
Inspired By You letters give teens an opportunity to reflect on a person who has inspired them. They are also an opportunity to inspire themselves! This activity goes well with a meeting focused on the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit Is Like the Wind (Kite Activity)
This activity is to show children how the Holy Spirit is like the wind. We can’t see the Holy Spirit directly, but we can see the work of the Spirit. You will need one or more kites and an outdoor location to fly them.
Homilies and Reflections for Pentecost Year A
Everyone Is Wearing Red
Jeff Cavins reflects on the readings for Pentecost Sunday Year A and Fr. Mike Schmitz makes a guest appearance.
The Advocate
From Life Teen. After praying a powerful prayer, one young man’s life changes in a big way, when he finds himself perpetually accompanied by a new friend.
The Falling of the Fire
From Bishop Robert Barron. God’s Spirit has given to each baptized person some gift for the upbuilding of the church. When one finds that gift, he should center his entire life around it. There are three paths to the discernment of one’s charismatic gift: prayer, listening to the church, and the stirring of the acorn.
A New Wind
From Scott Hahn. The giving of the Spirit to the new people of God crowns the mighty acts of the Father in salvation history. The Jewish feast of Pentecost called all devout Jews to Jerusalem to celebrate their birth as God’s chosen people in the covenant Law given to Moses at Sinai. Continue reading.
The Birthday of the Church: One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic
Also from Bishop Barron. On this great feast of Pentecost, I would like to say “happy birthday” to every Catholic listening to me, for we hold, in our traditional theology, that Pentecost is the birthday of the Church. It would behoove us on this our birthday to reflect on the nature of the Church.
More Thoughts for Pentecost Year A
A Constant Companion
On Pentecost, we focus on the gift of the Holy Spirit. We celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles. But we also remember the gift of the Holy Spirit given to us. We received the Holy Spirit in a special way at when we received the sacrament of Confirmation. But the Holy Spirit visits us every day.
The Spirit gives the Church many gifts, and in today’s readings we see one of those gifts: the ability to be understood by the diverse communities of the world. We receive this gift also. Every day we interact with people who are different than us in many ways. The Spirit will give us the ability to share the Good News in a way which resonates with each of them.
Reflection Questions for Pentecost Year A
- How do I respond to the presence of the Holy Spirit in my everyday life?
- Do I let the Holy Spirit guide me in my interactions with others?
- How can I become more aware of the Holy Spirit working through me?
Quotes and Social Media Graphics for Pentecost Year A
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.”
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