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Day of Pentecost, June 9, 2019, Year C

Please see How to Use Lection Connection

Full lections can be read here.

Based on the Readings as Set

First Reading (Acts 2:1-21)

On the Day of Pentecost Jesus’ followers are filled with the Holy Spirit as he promised. Their room is overwhelmed by wind and fire and they begin to proclaim God’s power in the languages of astonished foreign pilgrims. Peter explains this as the arrival of the age to come.

Psalm (104:24-34, 35b)

The Psalmist celebrates the wisdom of the Lord in the creation and sustaining of all things, both animate and inanimate. He accomplishes this by means of his Spirit and the Psalmist responds with heartfelt praise.

Second Reading (Romans 8:14-17)

Paul identifies the Holy Spirit as the one who connects us so intimately to Christ that we share in being God’s children and heirs with him of the glory to come. Led by the Spirit, we are no longer slaves but adopted children, bearing the confirming inner witness of his Spirit.

Gospel (John 14:8-17 [25-27])

Just before he dies Jesus teaches that his works show that he and the Father are one. In fact, those who love him and follow him will actually do more, receiving all they ask in his name. Given the Spirit of truth to remind them of his teaching, they will enjoy his unique peace.

CONNECTION SUGGESTIONS

  • The coming of the Holy Spirit marks the beginning of a (new) creation
  • The Holy Spirit is given in order to enable and extend the Church’s witness to the Christ-event
  • The Holy Spirit is Christ-with-us and in us
  • The Holy Spirit continues the mission of the ascended Jesus
  • The Holy Spirit more than makes up for the physical absence of Jesus

Based on the Alternate Readings

First Reading (Genesis 11:1-9)

Not long after creation humans have one language but they make a prideful attempt to build a great tower in Babel in order to reach all the way to heaven. The Lord is upset and causes them to speak in different tongues to frustrate their efforts and scatter them over the earth.

Psalm (104:24-34, 35b)

The Psalmist celebrates the wisdom of the Lord in the creation and sustaining of all things, both animate and inanimate. He accomplishes this by means of his Spirit and the Psalmist responds with heartfelt praise.

Second Reading (Acts 2:1-21)

On the Day of Pentecost Jesus’ followers are filled with the Holy Spirit as he promised. Their room is overwhelmed by wind and fire and they begin to proclaim God’s power in the languages of astonished foreign pilgrims. Peter explains this as the arrival of the age to come.

Gospel (John 14:8-17 [25-27])

Just before he dies Jesus teaches that his works show that he and the Father are one. In fact, those who love him and follow him will actually do more, receiving all they ask in his name. Given the Spirit of truth to remind them of his teaching, they will enjoy his unique peace.

CONNECTION SUGGESTIONS

  • The coming of the Holy Spirit marks the beginning of a (new) creation
  • The Holy Spirit is given in order to enable the Church’s witness to the Christ-event
  • The Holy Spirit continues the mission of the ascended Jesus
  • The Holy Spirit more than makes up for the physical absence of Jesus
  • The disunity of humanity expressed in language, is no barrier to the Gospel

 

 

 

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Day of Pentecost, May 20, 2018, Year B

Please see How to Use Lection Connection

Full lections can be read here.

Based on the Readings as Set

First Reading (Acts 2:1-21)

On the Day of Pentecost Jesus’ followers are filled with the Holy Spirit as he promised. Their room is overwhelmed by wind and fire and they begin to proclaim God’s power in languages understood by astonished foreign pilgrims. Peter explains this as the arrival of the age to come.

Psalm (104:24-34, 35b)

The Psalm celebrates the wisdom of YAHWEH in the creation and sustaining of all things, both animate and inanimate. He accomplishes this by means of his Spirit and the Psalmist responds with heartfelt praise.

Second Reading (Romans 8:22-27)

Paul depicts the whole creation, including Christians who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groaning in expectant anticipation of adoption and redemption. This requires patient hope for what is not yet seen, aided by the same Spirit who sympathetically intercedes with the Father.

Gospel (John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15)

Jesus promises the Spirit to his disciples as he prepares to go to his Father. In his absence the Spirit, also from the Father, will testify on his behalf. The Spirit will glorify Jesus, showing how he alone is the key to dealing with sin, effecting righteousness and executing judgment.

CONNECTION SUGGESTIONS

  • The Holy Spirit is “the God who creates”
  • The coming of the Holy Spirit marks the beginning of a (new) creation
  • The Holy Spirit is given in order to enable the Church’s witness to the Christ-event
  • The Holy Spirit is Christ-with-us
  • The Holy Spirit continues the mission of the ascended Jesus

 Based on the Alternate Readings

 First Reading (Ezekiel 37:1-14)

YAHWEH assures the defeated and exiled Jewish people that he will restore them fully to their Land, using the image of a valley full of scattered bones that come back to life. He has Ezekiel prophesy over the bones to begin the process, showing that it will be done by the Spirit.

Psalm (104:24-34, 35b)

The Psalm celebrates the wisdom of Yahweh in the creation and sustaining of all things, both animate and inanimate. He accomplishes this by means of his Spirit and the Psalmist responds with heartfelt praise.

 Second Reading (Acts 2:1-21)

On the Day of Pentecost Jesus’ followers are filled with the Holy Spirit as he promised. Their room is overwhelmed by wind and fire and they begin to proclaim God’s power in languages understood by astonished foreign pilgrims. Peter explains this as the arrival of the age to come.

Gospel (John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15)

Jesus promises the Spirit to his disciples as he prepares to go to his Father. In his absence the Spirit, also from the Father, will testify on his behalf. The Spirit will glorify him, showing how he alone is the key to dealing with sin, effecting righteousness and executing judgment.

CONNECTION SUGGESTIONS

  • The Holy Spirit is “the God who creates”
  • The coming of the Holy Spirit marks the beginning of a (new) creation
  • The Holy Spirit is given in order to enable the Church’s witness to the Christ-event
  • The Holy Spirit continues the mission of the ascended Jesus

 

 

 

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Readings for June 4, 2017 Year A Day of Pentecost

Please see How to Use Lection Connection

First Reading and Psalm

  • Acts 2:1-21 or Numbers 11:24-30
  • Psalm 104:24-34, 35b

Second Reading

  • 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 or Acts 21:1-21

Gospel

  • John 20:19-23 or John 7:37-39

Full lections can be read here.

Based on the Readings as Set

On the Day of Pentecost, fifty days after Jesus was crucified, his followers are filled with the Holy Spirit as promised. The place they are gathered is overwhelmed by the sound of a powerful wind while tongues of fire rest on each person and they begin to speak in other languages. Foreign Jews, in Jerusalem on pilgrimage, hear them and are astonished to learn of God’s power in their own language. Peter assures them that they are witnessing the fulfillment of prophecy about the expected age to come. The Psalm celebrates the wisdom of Yahweh in the creation and sustaining of all things, both animate and inanimate. He accomplishes this by means of his Spirit and the Psalmist responds with heartfelt praise. St. Paul emphasizes that, while there is a wide variety of spiritual gifts, services, and activities, they all come from the one Lord and are for the common good. Just as our bodies are made up of very different parts, so the Spirit orders such variety into a unified whole. St. John tells of the initial post-resurrection appearance of Jesus on Easter evening in which he first bestows peace upon his disciples and then shows them his hands and his side. Finally, he breathes the Holy Spirit upon them and sends them into the world to continue his work of the forgiveness of sins.

As Introductions and/or Bulletin Use

First Reading

On the Day of Pentecost, fifty days after Jesus was crucified, his followers are filled with the Holy Spirit as promised. The place they are gathered is overwhelmed by the sound of a powerful wind while tongues of fire rest on each person and they begin to speak in other languages. Foreign Jews, in Jerusalem on pilgrimage, hear them and are astonished to learn of God’s power in their own language. Peter assures them that they are witnessing the fulfillment of prophecy about the expected age to come.

Psalm

The Psalm celebrates the wisdom of Yahweh in the creation and sustaining of all things, both animate and inanimate. He accomplishes this by means of his Spirit and the Psalmist responds with heartfelt praise.

Second Reading

St. Paul emphasizes that, while there is a wide variety of spiritual gifts, services, and activities, they all come from the one Lord and are for the common good. Just as our bodies are made up of very different parts, so the Spirit orders such variety into a unified whole.

Gospel

St. John tells of the initial post-resurrection appearance of Jesus on Easter evening in which he first bestows peace upon his disciples and then shows them his hands and his side. Finally, he breathes the Holy Spirit upon them and sends them into the world to continue his work of the forgiveness of sins.

Based on the Alternative Readings (Using the second choice in each case)

In order to share the burden of leadership for the people of Israel in the wilderness, Yahweh bestows some of the Spirit Moses had been given on seventy elders gathered separately from the main camp. They begin to prophesy and when two who had remained in the camp do the same Moses comes under criticism. He responds by saying he wishes all of God’s people were given the Spirit. The Psalm celebrates the wisdom of Yahweh in the creation and sustaining of all things, both animate and inanimate. He accomplishes this by means of his Spirit and the Psalmist responds with heartfelt praise. On the Day of Pentecost, fifty days after Jesus was crucified, his followers are filled with the Holy Spirit as promised. The place they are gathered is overwhelmed by the sound of a powerful wind while tongues of fire rest on each person and they begin to speak in other languages. Foreign Jews, in Jerusalem on pilgrimage, hear them and are astonished to learn of God’s power in their own language. Peter assures them that they are witnessing the fulfillment of prophecy about the expected age to come. Part of the celebration of the Feast of the Tabernacles Jesus attended involved the joyful pouring of pure water on the Temple altar. He uses this opportunity to invite anyone who thirsts to come to him and have rivers of water flow out of them. He is describing the work of the Holy Spirit in each believer.

As Introductions and/or Bulletin Use

First Reading

In order to share the burden of leadership for the people of Israel in the wilderness, Yahweh bestows some of the Spirit Moses had been given on seventy elders gathered separately from the main camp. They begin to prophesy and when two who had remained in the camp do the same Moses comes under criticism. He responds by saying he wishes all of God’s people were given the Spirit.

Psalm

The Psalm celebrates the wisdom of Yahweh in the creation and sustaining of all things, both animate and inanimate. He accomplishes this by means of his Spirit and the Psalmist responds with heartfelt praise.

Second Reading

On the Day of Pentecost, fifty days after Jesus was crucified, his followers are filled with the Holy Spirit as promised. The place they are gathered is overwhelmed by the sound of a powerful wind while tongues of fire rest on each person and they begin to speak in other languages. Foreign Jews, in Jerusalem on pilgrimage, hear them and are astonished to learn of God’s power in their own language. Peter assures them that they are witnessing the fulfillment of prophecy about the expected age to come.

Gospel

Part of the celebration of the Feast of the Tabernacles Jesus attended involved the joyful pouring of pure water on the Temple altar. He uses this opportunity to invite anyone who thirsts to come to him and have rivers of water flow out of them. He is describing the work of the Holy Spirit in each believer.