Solemnity
Pentecost ("the fiftieth day") is a Christian holiday commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles on the fiftieth day after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Apostles began to speak in many languages and have received other spiritual gifts. The event was foretold by Jesus before his Ascension.
In Christian tradition Pentecost is a moveable feast observed exactly seven weeks after Easter Day, i.e. 50 days after Easter (inclusive, 49 + Easter). It always falls on the seventh Sunday after Easter Sunday.
In Years A, B & C the first reading is from the Acts of the Apostles (2:1-11). In it we hear that while meeting in the upper room the apostles “heard what sounded like a mighty wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit.”
The second reading in Year A is from the first letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor 12:3-7, 12-13). In it Paul tells us “There is a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit; there are all sorts of service to be done but always to the same Lord; working in all sorts of different ways in different people, it is the same God who is working in them.” In Year B the second reading is from Galatians (5:16-25). Here Paul lists the various gifts of the Spirit, “What the Spirit brings is …love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control.” In Year C the second reading is from Romans (8:8-17). In this letter we hear “Everyone moved by the Spirit is a son of God. The spirit...makes us cry out ‘Abba, Father.’”
In all three years the Gospel from John. In Year A it is John 20:19-23. We hear Jesus’ words to his disciples after the Resurrection “Receive the Holy Spirit.” In Year B the Gospel is John 15:26-27, 16: 12-15. In this discourse, taken from the Last Supper we hear of the sending of the Spirit “When the Advocate comes, whom I shall send from my Father, the Spirit of truth who issues from the Father, he will be my witness.” In Year C the Gospel, also from the Last Supper, is John 14:15-16. 23-26. Jesus’ promises to send the Spirit “If you love me you will keep my commandments. I shall ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you for ever…the Advocate, the Holy Spirit...will teach you everything and remind you of all I have said to you.”