Pentecost Year B
Vigil Mass
Genesis 11:1–9, Exodus 19:3–8a, 16–20b, Ezekiel 37:1–14, OR Joel 3:1–5
Ps. 104:1–2, 24, 35, 27–28, 29, 30
Romans 8:22–27
John 7:37–39
Mass During the Day
Acts 2:1-11
Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34
1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13 or Galatians 5:16-25
John 20:19-23 or John 15:26-27; 16:12-15
Pentecost is the grand closing to the Easter season. The cycle of the Passion-Death-Resurrection of the Lord Jesus brings us to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, made possible because Jesus has gone from our sight to be with the Father in His risen and glorified human nature. Our human nature in Christ has been made capable of the fullness of Divine Life.
The Church offers a Liturgy that is parallel to Easter, including a Vigil Mass and a Mass during the day. Very few parishes choose to celebrate the Vigil with solemnity using multiple readings and responsorial psalms. But the theme of the day is clear. We ask God to fulfill the promise that has been made to us through salvation history: “Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.”
For the Vigil, the Old Testament readings that can be selected tell us of the confusion of language and dispersal of the nations in the account of Babel (Genesis), the Epiphany of God to Moses on Sinai (Exodus), the dry bones being raised by the Spirit (Ezekiel) and the prophetic promise of the outpouring of the Spirit on all flesh (Joel). Paul speaks of the share all of creation has in awaiting the revelation of the children of God. In the Gospel, Jesus cries out the invitation to living water.
Sunday’s reading from Acts of the Apostles highlights the reversal of Babel in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost with the noise like a strong, driving wind, the tongues of flame overshadowing the Apostles and Mary, and the first bold proclamation of the Gospel where all understand what is said in their own languages. The unity of humanity is renewed. Those who believe become the first members of the Church in Jerusalem.
Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians describes the harmony of the Spirit’s action in the Body of Christ, the Church, with the different kinds of spiritual gifts, different forms of service and different workings: “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.” Likewise, in the Letter to the Galatians, the second option for the Epistle of the Mass on the day of Pentecost, Paul enumerates the fruits of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”
The Gospel brings us back to Easter Sunday evening, when Jesus makes known to His disciples that He has risen. He gives them the fullness of peace through His greeting of “Shalom.” Then, in His Risen Body, He breathes on them and empowers them to live the power of the Resurrection to heal the world: “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” The sacramental life of the Church continues this mission.
The Holy Spirit has been poured out on the Church. Pentecost brings us to birth as the Body of Christ that continues to be formed by the Spirit into the life of grace. Mary, the Mother of the Lord who was with the Apostles at Pentecost, becomes truly the Mother of the Church. Her feast is observed on the Monday after Pentecost.
What a joy it is for the Diocese of Columbus to be celebrating the ordination and Masses of Thanksgiving of five new priests this Pentecost weekend. May the Spirit fill these young men with zeal for God and His People. May their ministry bear fruit and may many be inspired to proclaim the Gospel to all the nations. “Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth!”
