SOLEMNITY OF PENTECOST (A)

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May 28, 2023

SOLEMNITY OF PENTECOST (A)

The Breath of Fire
Like A Storm

Greeting (See Second Reading)

In the one Spirit we were all baptized,
and one Spirit was given
to us all to drink.
May the Holy Spirit be given to you
and be always with you. R/ And also with you.

Introduction by the Celebrant

The Breath of Fire

Who does not dream of a day to come when he or she will no longer be afraid to do the things so long postponed because the courage to do them was lacking? Who is not hoping for more enthusiasm to do the everyday tasks with joy, to take the risk of deeply loving God and people without conditions and without hesitation? Who does not wish to be much more inspired and dynamic and creative in life? Today is the day on which this can begin to happen, for today is Pentecost, the day of the Spirit, the day the stormwind renews our love, the day of the fire that brings us joy and freedom, the day of the Holy Spirit. May Jesus breathe his Spirit on us and make our hearts aflame with his light and life.

Like A Storm

We are familiar with storms, cyclones, typhoons that shake houses and uproot trees. Today we celebrate another wind, at times like a tempest, but not destructive, other times like a gentle, refreshing breeze. It is the Spirit, the breath of God, the Holy Spirit that blows. Where does this come from? Where does he go and where does he lead us? It is the mighty Spirit of God, a storm of love and courage, a creative, renewing, “inspiring” Spirit who wants to make a new Pentecost with us. Let God's Holy Spirit bring fresh air to our hearts, refresh our faith, and increase our love in this Eucharist.

Penitential Act

We have not used the marvelous gifts
which the Holy Spirit keeps offering us.
Let us ask God to forgive us
and to open us to the gifts of the Spirit.
(pause)
Lord Jesus, breathe on us the Spirit
who can make us understand one another
and help us to appreciate and support one another:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Jesus Christ, breathe on us the Spirit
who can unite us in one love
and make that love creative and inventive:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, breathe on us your Spirit
to liberate us from all paralyzing fears
and to make us serve God and people with joy:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

In your great kindness, Lord,
forgive us all our sins,
open us to the Spirit of life and love
and lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.

Introduction to the Glory

Let the Spirit help us praise the Lord with conviction and joy.

Opening Prayer

Let us pray to the Father
to send us the Holy Spirit
as he gave him to the young Church
(pause)
God our Father,
let the Holy Spirit surprise us
with fire and vigor,
and make us young and new again
as he did for the young Church.
Let your Spirit renew our days,
our loves and our lives,
bring us tenderness and joy
as well as openness to one another
and the courage to stand up
for all that is right and just.
Let him unite us and lead us to you.
All this we ask you through Christ Jesus our Lord. R/ Amen.

First Reading (Acts 2:1-11): The Spirit Comes As A Mighty Storm

Loud noise, a mighty storm, fire, languages—these symbols used to describe the first Christian Pentecost tell us forcefully that something totally new is happening. God’s Spirit of power is breaking through to bring divided humanity together in a community where there is room for all.

Reading I: 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.”

Responsorial Psalm: 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34

R. (cf. 30) Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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.
or:
R. Alleluia.
If you take away their breath, they perish
   and 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.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Second Reading (1 Cor 12:3-7,12-13): We Are One in the Spirit

Whatever good there is in us, whatever gifts God has given us, everything comes from the Spirit working in us. Beyond our different talents and tasks, the Spirit unites us in the body of Christ as one community of faith, hope and love.

Reading II: 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13

Brothers 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.

Sequence

Veni, Sancte Spiritus

Come, Holy Spirit, come!
And from your celestial home
   Shed a ray of light divine!
Come, Father of the poor!
Come, source of all our store!
   Come, within our bosoms shine.
You, of comforters the best;
You, the soul’s most welcome guest;
   Sweet refreshment here below;
In our labor, rest most sweet;
Grateful coolness in the heat;
   Solace in the midst of woe.
O most blessed Light divine,
Shine within these hearts of yours,
   And our inmost being fill!
Where you are not, we have naught,
Nothing good in deed or thought,
   Nothing free from taint of ill.
Heal our wounds, our strength renew;
On our dryness pour your dew;
   Wash the stains of guilt away:
Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
   Guide the steps that go astray.
On the faithful, who adore
And confess you, evermore
   In your sevenfold gift descend;
Give them virtue’s sure reward;
Give them your salvation, Lord;
   Give them joys that never end. Amen.
   Alleluia.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Jn 20:19-23): Receive the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit completes the work of Jesus in us, and through us in the world. Like the apostles, we are told to leave our enclosures and to bring healing and peace to the world.

Gospel: Jn 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.”

Intercessions

Let us pray to God to pour out on us and on the whole world the Spirit of courage and unity. Let us say: R/ Let your Spirit renew the face of the earth.

– On the churches spread all over the earth, on the communities with a thousand faces, on Christians scattered over the whole wide world, pour out your Spirit: R/ Let your Spirit renew the face of the earth.

– On the Pope and the leaders of the Churches, on bishops and on pastors,
on all who have a ministry of service, pour out your Spirit: R/ Let your Spirit renew the face of the earth..

– On Christians persecuted for their faith, on those who doubt or waver,
on all who seek God and wait for the Spirit, pour out your Spirit: R/ Let your Spirit renew the face of the earth..

– On those who oppress their brothers and sisters, on those in positions of power, on those who are enslaved and on those who are free, pour out your Spirit: R/ Let your Spirit renew the face of the earth.

– On those who spread the gospel, on those whose task it is to forgive sins, on those bound in the shackles of their faults, pour out your Spirit: R/ Let your Spirit renew the face of the earth.

– On those who are gathered here in your name, on those who have left our communities, on those newly baptized these days, pour out your Spirit: R/ Let your Spirit renew the face of the earth.

For all these we pray you, Lord our God. Send your Spirit on each of us; let him put us afire with his love today and all our days, for ever. R/Amen.

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord our God,
let your Spirit come down
on this bread and wine
and fill it with the life of Jesus, your Son.
Let your Spirit come down on us
who sit at the table of Jesus,
and fill us with the life and joy of your Son.
Let him make us truly the Body of Christ,
in which it becomes visible
that we are the heart and the hands
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ Amen.

Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer

With the Holy Spirit in our hearts, let us with joy and gratitude join in the thanksgiving of Jesus our Lord.

Introduction to the Lord’s Prayer

We cannot say “Jesus is Lord”
except through the Spirit.
We cannot say “Father” to God,
except through the Spirit crying out in us.
With this Holy Spirit, we can now say with complete trust
the prayer given us by Jesus. R/ Our Father...

Deliver Us

Deliver us Lord, from every evil
and grant in our day the peace of Christ,
which is the work of your Spirit.
In your mercy keep us free from all the sins
which obstruct the unity
and the universality of your Church.
Protect us from all anxiety and reassure us
that even in the uncertainties of our time
the Spirit leads us forward in joyful hope
toward the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ.

R/ For the kingdom...

Invitation to Communion (See Rev 22:17, 21)

The Spirit and the Church says: come.
Let everyone who listen answer: come.
Let all who are thirsty come.
All who want it
may have the water of life
and have it free.
This is the risen Christ
whose spirit moves us forward
to bear witness to God’s love. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...

Prayer after Communion

God our Father,
we have heard your Son speak his Word to us
and we have eaten from his table

the bread of life.
Let your Spirit put fire in these words,
that they may keep burning in us
and shaking us up from our indifference.
And may the Spirit prompt and urge us
to become tasty bread to one another,
who restore and build up our brothers and sisters
on the way to you, our living God.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. R/ Amen.

Blessing

In this Eucharist
God has poured out on us again
the fire and the stormwind of the Spirit.
May the Spirit move us
to take the risk of committing ourselves fully
to God and to people.
May he give us the courage to change
ourselves and the Church we love,
that we may be living signs to all the world
of God’s goodness and presence.
May almighty God bless you:
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.

Go and let the Holy Spirit
keep your hearts afire with God’s love. R/ Thanks be to God.

Reflection :

28 May 2023 PENTECOST SUNDAY

John 20:19-23

Spirit of Christ

The Gospel begins by saying, “On the evening of the first day of the week.” By the time the Gospel of John was written, the first day of the week referred to the day for Christians to gather to celebrate the Eucharist. It is in this context of the weekly gatherings of the first Christian community that Jesus breathes on the disciples and invites them to “receive the Holy Spirit”.

John gives the details of the incident: It was the first day of the week, it was evening, and the doors were closed. It is possible that the closed doors simply explained the disciples’ fear, as John himself suggested. But they may also have symbolised the hearts of the disciples, which are closed and paralysed, not yet ready to believe that their Lord, who was tortured and killed, is now alive.

It is into the midst of these unbelieving people that the Lord comes in. Closed doors no longer restrict him – he passes through their hardened hearts to breathe peace and joy. Remember the words in the letter to the Hebrews 4:12: “For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Was this the experience of the disciples when they felt the Lord was breathing on them and invited them to “receive the Holy Spirit?”

The Word of God is not chained! It pierces through closed doors and enters deep into people’s hearts. His words, “Peace be with you,” are brought into the hearts of those who are burdened, bruised, restless, frightened, lonely, and sad. He breathes happiness and peace into their hearts and invites them to receive the Holy Spirit.

Jesus promises the Spirit’s guidance in our lives. The Gospel of John has given us extensive details on the works of the Holy Spirit. “I will not leave you alone,” “The Spirit of Truth will lead you to all truth.” As the Church celebrates its birthday, we are reminded to pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance, direction, and protection throughout our journey of faith.

We often pray to God the Father and Jesus, but we seldom pray to the Holy Spirit and thus fail to listen to the voice of the Spirit. If we listen to him in silence, He makes the Word of God penetrate our hearts and gives us the strength to live by the Gospel. Today we are called to let ourselves be led by the voice of the Spirit to give glory to Jesus.

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