Pentecost

The Gift of the Holy Spirit

Fifty days after Easter, the church celebrates Pentecost, the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles. It is a day to celebrate the work of the Holy Spirit in the church and in each of us and to reflect on how the Spirit is at work in the world. The readings for the day in the current Roman Catholic lectionary are very rich. Not only are there two different liturgies, one for the Vigil of Pentecost and one for the day, but there are different options for each of these.

Biblical Readings

The Vigil for Pentecost gives the following options for the Old Testament reading: Genesis 11:1-9 (tower of Babel), Exodus 19:3-8, 16-20 (Moses heading up Mount Sinai into the darkness of God), Ezekiel 37:1-14 (the valley of dry bones that come back to life), and Joel 3:1-5 (speaking of the Spirit being poured out on all flesh). The Psalm is the same for all of them: Psalm 104 with the antiphon “Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth”. Alternatively, there is an extended version where, like the Easter Vigil, each of these readings are used, each with their own Responsorial Psalm. The second reading is Romans 8:22-27 where Paul speaks of creation groaning for the outpouring of the Spirit. The gospel reading is John 7:37-39, where Jesus tells all the thirsty to come to him so that they can receive rivers of living water, which the narrator explains is the Spirit.

The Mass during the day has Acts 2:1-11, of course, which describes the event of Pentecost with the tongues of fire coming down on the apostles and their first preaching. The psalm is the same as the vigil. The second reading gives the option between 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13 that speaks of the different gifts of the Spirit binding us together as one body with different gifts and Romans 8:8-17 that describes the work of the Spirit within us, transforming our corruptible bodies into spiritual flesh. The gospel is John 20:19-23 in which Jesus, after the resurrection, breathes the Spirit on the apostles, sending them out. There is also the option of John 14:15-16, 23-26 where Jesus, before his resurrection, promises that the Father will send the Spirit in his name.

Action of the Holy Spirit

What, then, is the work of the Holy Spirit? These readings give us several indications. He is the power of creation, the one who gives us access to the Father, the enlivener of all flesh, the giver of gifts, and the power to witness to Christ. The Sequence, which is sung before the gospel today, speaks of him as a comforter who gives solace and refreshment. He is the healer and giver of all that is good. The Nicene Creed tells us that he is “the Lord, the giver of life”. It is he who is adored and glorified with the Father and Son. He has “spoken through the prophets”. He has also brought about and continues to renew the “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church”. He brings about the “forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the dead, and life everlasting”. Let’s look at some of these.