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Pentecost Year C

Sunday June 8, 2025

Mass Readings for Pentecost Year C

  • First ReadingActs 2:1-11: During Pentecost, the disciples, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke in diverse languages, astonishing a multinational crowd in Jerusalem as each heard God's wonders in their own tongue.
  • Responsorial PsalmPsalm 104: I praise the Lord, overwhelmed by His vast and varied creations. I seek to please Him with my thoughts, rejoicing as He refreshes the earth with His life-giving Spirit.
  • Second ReadingCorinthians 12:3B-7, 12-13: Declaring "Jesus is Lord" requires the Holy Spirit. Diverse spiritual gifts, services, and functions are from one Spirit, uniting us in Christ's body, transcending all differences.
  • Alternate Second Reading - Romans 8:8-17: Living by the Spirit, not the flesh, aligns us with God. Christ's Spirit in us promises life despite mortal bodies. Led by this Spirit, we are God's children, heirs with Christ, sharing in His glory through our sufferings.
  • Gospel - John 20:19-23: In a locked room, Jesus appeared to his fearful disciples, offering peace. He showed his crucifixion wounds, turning their fear to joy. Jesus then commissioned them, as the Father had sent him, and bestowed the Holy Spirit, granting them authority to forgive or retain sins.
  • Alternate Gospel - John 14:15-16, 23B-26: Jesus emphasized the importance of obedience to his commandments as a sign of true love for him. He promised the Father would send an Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to be with his followers forever. This Spirit will teach and remind them of Jesus' teachings, which are also the Father's. Jesus and the Father will dwell with those who adhere to these teachings.

Themes for Pentecost Year C

The readings for Pentecost Year C promise that we are not on our own, but have the Spirit to guide us. In the first reading the Holy Spirit comes to the disciples. The psalm asks for the Spirit to come to us. In the second reading we learn that only through the Holy Spirit can we declare that Jesus Christ is Lord. In the alternate second reading we hear that life in the world brings only death, but the Spirit brings life. In the gospel Jesus breathes the Spirit into his disciples. In the alternate gospel Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will keep us close to him.

  • 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 C.

Resources for Pentecost Year C

Praise to God the Creator Prayer Based on Psalm 104
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Praise to God the Creator

This prayer is based on Psalm 104, which is one of the responsorial psalm choices for this Sunday.

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.

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.

Homilies and Reflections for Pentecost Year C

The Number Three

Bishop Robert Barron tells us that "the number three will tell us a lot of what we need to know about the Spirit, whose distinctive mark is not oppressive unity, nor conflictual diversity, but unity in diversity."

Pentecost Sunday Year C

In this week’s Encountering the Word video, Jeff Cavins reflects on the readings for Pentecost Sunday Year C.

The Here and Now

Pope Francis tells us "in the great journey of life, the Spirit teaches us where to begin, what paths to take, and how to walk." Read the full homily from Pope Francis

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. We receive that Spirit in the sacraments, being made a 'new creation' in Baptism. Drinking of the one Spirit in the Eucharist, we are the first fruits of a new humanity." Continue reading.

The Holy Spirit and Mission

From Bishop Robert Barron. "Today we celebrate the great feast of Pentecost, one of the truly great moments in the life of the Church. The Holy Spirit comes to give many spiritual gifts, which prepare us to enter into relationship with Christ and embark on mission."

Peace and Forgiveness

From Loyola Press. "Today's gospel reminds us about the integral connection between the gifts of peace and forgiveness and the action of the Holy Spirit. Jesus greets his disciples with the gift of peace." Continue reading.

More Thoughts for Pentecost Year C

To the early Christians, the Spirit had two main effects. It united individuals to life eternal in Christ. And it made Christ manifest in the lives of individuals.

The Spirit is mentioned throughout the Old Testament. It is the breath of God, a mighty wind. It is the inspiration for prophets, moving them into speech and action. The Spirit of God was present in the temple.

At Pentecost, the Spirit takes up residence in Christians. And it joins them all together in one purpose. It does not remove individuality, but it breaks down barriers which separate, such as different languages.

We are drawn into the unity of the Spirit through Baptism and through the Eucharist. And in turn, we receive the life of Christ within us. But we still retain our own unique characteristics. Each of us receives different gifts in the Spirit.

Reflection Questions for Pentecost Year C

  • How does the Holy Spirit unite me to other Christians?
  • What unique gifts have I receive from the Holy Spirit?
  • How does the Holy Spirit draw me closer to Christ and all of creation?

Quotes and Social Media Graphics for Pentecost Year C

Spirit of God
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For those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a Spirit of adoption, through whom we cry, "Abba, Father!"

transmit the faith
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We need the Holy Spirit to transmit the faith. We cannot do it alone.

Pope Francis

Frequently Asked Questions

What date is Pentecost Year C?

The upcoming dates are Sunday June 8, 2025

For other years see the links below:
Pentecost Year A: Sunday May 24, 2026
Pentecost Year B: Sunday May 19, 2024

What are the Mass readings for Pentecost Year C?

First Reading – Acts 2:1-11: Pentecost's Miraculous Languages
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 104: God's Lifegiving Spirit
Second Reading – Corinthians 12:3B-7, 12-13: Unity in the Spirit
Alternate Second Reading - Romans 8:8-17: Living in the Spirit, Heirs with Christ
Gospel - John 20:19-23: Jesus' Appearance and Commission
Alternate Gospel - John 14:15-16, 23B-26: Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

What Are the themes for the Mass readings for Pentecost Year C?

The Holy Spirit
Being empowered as disciples
New life as Christians
Evangelization
The unity of the Holy Spirit
How the Spirit makes Christ present

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