Pentecost Sunday – Year A 31 May 2020
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“As the Father sent me, so I send you.
Receive the Holy Spirit.”
Something to Think About
There are two powerful symbols associated with Pentecost. The Holy Spirit came to the disciples in the form of fire and wind. Close your eyes and imagine what it was like on that first Pentecost day. Hear the sound of wind and imagine the lights and warmth of fire.
Be still and try to feel the presence of God within you at this moment.
The Story
Pentecost is a special feast for the Church. Pentecost takes its name from the feast the Jews celebrated fifty days after their Passover. In today’s gospel, Jesus appears to the disciples and commands them to go forth – to go out and spread the good news of Jesus. However, Jesus knows that they will need strength so ‘he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”’
The Scriptures
A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to John 20:19-23
The disciples were afraid of the Jewish leaders, and on the evening of that same Sunday they locked themselves in a room. Suddenly, Jesus appeared in the middle of the group. He greeted them and showed them his hands and his side.
When the disciples saw the Lord, they became very happy. After Jesus had greeted them again, he said, “I am sending you, just as the Father has sent me.”
Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they will be forgiven. But if you don’t forgive their sins, they will not be forgiven.”
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Family Discussion
- How do you think the disciples were feeling when they had locked themselves in the room?
- How do you think they felt when Jesus suddenly appeared in the middle of the group?
- How did Jesus give the Holy Spirit to the disciples?
- What did Jesus send the disciples to do?
Family Activity
You will need some sticky notes this week.
During the week be ‘Spirit Spotters’. We ‘see’ the Holy Spirit when someone is loving, kind, happy, sharing, forgiving, generous, and helpful. Look carefully at family members, friends, people you do not know, and yourself. Fill each sticky note with the name of someone you spotted the Holy Spirit in, and what you saw them doing.